Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has panned Umno president Najib Abdul Razak for the temporary deregistration of Bersatu by drawing parallels to other Umno-splinter groups, Semangat 46 and PKR.

"Mahathir let Semangat 46 and PKR be registered, and fought them democratically. But (Najib acted) in fear, and banned (Bersatu).

"You banned Bersatu in hopes of winning the next general election, cis!" Mohamed exclaimed at a Pakatan Harapan roadshow in Pasir Gudang last night.

Semangat 46 was formed in 1988 following a tumultuous Umno party election, in which then-president Dr Mahathir Mohamad almost lost the presidency.

PKR, meanwhile, was formed after Mahathir sacked his then-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Both parties contested in elections after they were formed, with limited success.

Bersatu was temporarily deregistered on Thursday by the Registrar of Societies for allegedly failing to furnish documents sought by the regulating body.

The party is appealing the decision, while its president Mahathir has vowed to defy any bans placed on his party.

Mohamad was speaking at the southern Johor leg of the 'Jelajah Harapan' tour.

After his speech, he unveiled Amanah's candidates for southern Johor, namely Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai parliamentary seat), Abrary Ramli (Pasir Raja state seat), Ahmad Kamal Noor (Penawar state seat), Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kota Iskandar state seat), and Suhaizan Kaiat (Kukup state seat)