There seems to be something fishy about the Registrar of Society's (ROS) announcement on Bersatu's provisional dissolution, Umno veteran Rais Yatim said.

In a tweet last night, the former cabinet minister questioned the rationale behind ROS director-general Surayati Ibrahim calling for a press conference to announce the matter, instead of dealing with the party directly.

"Why the need for the ROS to have a press conference on the temporary dissolution of Bersatu, on the eve of GE14 (14th general election)?

"Isn't it better to call the party secretary and advice accordingly? Section 14 (5) should not be used as the cleaver to slaughter democracy. Something seems really wrong," Rais said.

The special adviser to the government was referring to Section 14 (5) of the Societies Act, which stipulates that where the particulars required under subsection (2) of the same Act are not furnished within the time stated in the order, or any extension thereof allowed by the Registrar, the Registrar may make a provisional order for dissolution of the society.

Rais is the second veteran politician to voice out against the provisional dissolution imposed on Bersatu.

Yesterday, former minister Rafidah Aziz called the move "despicable" and asked why the current administration, led by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, was so afraid that it must resort every possible heavy-handed action possible in the playbook.

Both Rais and Rafidah have also been especially vocal on several national issues of late, including the lack of government action in the seizure of luxury yacht Equanimity, and the 1MDB scandal.