There will be 'no merger' between PRM and Keadilan if the latter fails to amend its party constitution, PRM secretary-general Dr Sanusi Osman said today.

He reiterated that PRM will also not compromise on its condition for the merger - that the constitution of Keadilan be amended to include a name change to Parti Keadilan Rakyat Malaysia (PKRM) and a new logo be adopted.

Yesterday, PRM's 34th national congress in Kuala Lumpur saw the passing of four resolutions to dissolve the 46-year-old party and merge with Keadilan on the condition that the new party's constitution be first be approved by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Fearing that registering a completely new party could be frustrated by the authorities, both parties resolved to make a number of amendments to the existing Keadilan's constitution, and when this is approved, the smaller PRM would dissolve itself.

"PRM's stands firm on the idea that both parties have to dissolve to form the new entity," said Sanusi who is also a member of the parties' technical committee for the merger.

He was commenting on statements from certain quarters within Keadilan that the party is unlikely to amend its constitution with regards to the merger.

The Sun daily yesterday quoted a Keadilan division leader as saying that many members would not endorse the idea of changing the Keadilan's name and logo to accommodate the merger with PRM.

Sanusi, however, said the ball was now in Keadilan's court as the party needed to take the necessary moves to amend its constitution for the merger to take place.

"I am sure if they want to merge with us, the Keadilan delegates will know what is best to do," said Sanusi.

'We'll find a way'

Late last month, a Keadilan special annual general meeting failed to obtain a two-thirds majority on a resolution to agree to necessary amendments to its constitution for the merger although the delegates voted to back the union with PRM.

It is widely believed that many Keadilan delegates prefer to maintain their party name and logo and are hesitant on the proposal to incorporate two red borders on the Keadilan flag to mark the merger with PRM.

Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar, when contacted, told malaysiakini that the party's supreme council will discuss further steps to proceed with the merger at their meeting 'very soon'.

He said the party welcomed PRM's endorsement at its national congress yesterday of the resolutions which were in favour of the merger.

"We will find a way to proceed with the merger as it has been endorsed by both the parties," he said.

PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali declined to comment on the merger when contacted saying, "You will have to ask Keadilan leaders as we have already done our part," he said.

Manifesto adopted

The merger proposal, which came about early last year, has seen a split in consensus among members of both parties. Some say the move would enhance the struggle of establishing a just Malaysia whereas others are more skeptical.

Among the issues raised by an opposing faction in Keadilan is PRM's past association with socialism - a supposedly 'godless' ideology, and whether the party should be allowed to join Keadilan en bloc .

Keadilan was formed in 1999 following the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister. His wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is party's president.

Both parties recently adopted a 17-point manifesto to pave the way for the merger.

The manifesto states, among others, the upholding of the country's constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, the recognition of Islam as the official religion and Bahasa Melayu as the official language and respecting the religious freedom and mother tongues of minority groups.