Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) has given the Registrar of Societies (ROS) until Friday to register the coalition failing which it would initiate legal action against the latter.

Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah said this in a letter sent to the ROS yesterday.

Addressed to ROS director-general Suriyati Ibrahim, Saifuddin in the letter cited a Nov 20 meeting with her during which Harapan was told that its application could not be processed because the ROS was still awaiting a report from the Bersatu annual general meeting and the party's annual return, as well as DAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) re-election report.

"We were told that both the parties have since submitted complete reports to you. Hence, we believe all the necessary requirements have been fulfilled.

"We urge the ROS to approve Harapan's application within 48 hours after the acceptance of this letter. If we do not receive any reply, we will proceed with legal action," Saifuddin said.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Saifuddin said that since the ROS has recognised DAP's re-election, it is time the registrar recognised that Bersatu was a registered body.

"There is no real reason stopping them from approving our registration. ROS should uphold the spirit of democracy by facilitating the growth of democratic practices and the formation of political coalitions like Harapan. ROS should facilitate, not frustrate," he said.

Yesterday, it was reported that ROS has recognised DAP's CEC elected in November last year.

Bersatu, however, has hit a brick wall in getting registered with its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday complaining of concerted efforts of unnamed quarters to stop the party's registration.

He said these quarters had sent by over 400 similarly worded letters to the ROS questioning the legality of the party's AGM last year.