DAP deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo has ticked off the Election Commission for its decision to bar Pakatan Harapan from using pictures of its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamed as campaign material.

Gobind called the EC's move "premature," as there are no laws for the commission to decide such as they should wait for the court decision on Harapan's registration.

"This EC decision is also up for a challenge for we will not take it lightly. We might succeed at the High Court tomorrow (to get the Registrar of Societies to respond to Harapan's application for registration)," Gobind said.

"Unless the EC has made up its mind that we will not succeed, it should wait as its decision is subject to challenge," he added.

Gobind said it is general knowledge that a legal action has been filed against the ROS at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to compel it to respond to the coalition's application for registration.

"This action has been allowed, and the hearing is tomorrow (April 5) and we hope for a decision.

"Why did EC make a decision without taking into account of the court matter? To me, the EC should respect the due process of the court and wait for its decision," the Puchong MP added.

Gobind said if the High Court gives an order for the ROS to register Harapan, it would mean that the coalition could then use Mahathir's photo in its election campaign.

April 5 is the last day of the current Parliament session and speculation is rife that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will call for the dissolution on Friday, paving the way for an early May general election, before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan begins on the 15th.

On Feb 21, Harapan filed a suit against ROS, to compel it to respond or reply to the coalition's application for registration.

Gobind said that as a creature of statute, the ROS is duty bound to consider applications of this nature, and as such, its failure to respond to Harapan is a breach of its statutory duty, as well as going against their legitimate expectation for a response.

ROS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said Harapan could not be registered because Bersatu, one of the component parties in the opposition coalition, has yet to respond and provide all the information and documents required in the notice ROS issued to Bersatu under Section 14(2) of the Societies Act 1966.

Besatu on March 31 said that all conditions set by the ROS have been complied with and it has no reason not to register Harapan.