Surayati Ibrahim, who was the director-general of the Registry of Societies (RoS) when Pakatan Harapan was unable to get registered and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) was temporarily deregistered, has been transferred to the Public Service Department (PSD).

She has been replaced by Masyati Abang Ibrahim, a senior consultant at the Public Sector Transformation Division of the PSD, Home Ministry secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim announced today.

Alwi said in a statement that Surayati was moved to the PSD on May 22 and that Masyati, who had wide experience in administration and management, assumed her new post the following day.

Surayati had issued an order on April 5 to temporarily deregister Bersatu for allegedly failing to submit all the required documents and information and financial reports, and gave the party 30 days to do so or risk full deregistration.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had said then that the party was unable to furnish minutes of the meetings of its and divisions and branches because RoS had only approved the setting up of the divisions last July and that no organisation held an annual general meeting in less than one year of its establishment.

The RoS order prohibited Bersatu from conducting any activities and using its logo and name during the 30 days, thus upsetting Bersatu’s plans for the general election that was announced two days later, on April 7.  

The order against Bersatu also affected the registration of the Pakatan Harapan coalition which, besides Bersatu, also comprised PKR, DAP and Amanah.

As a result, Pakatan Harapan went into the 14th general election on May 9 using the PKR logo.

Pakatan Harapan won the general election and formed the federal government. It also retained power in Penang and Selangor and captured Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah.

Pakatan Harapan has since been registered.

- Bernama