PUTRAJAYA Oct 20, 2026 — The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has cancelled the registration of Perikatan Nasional (PN) after finding that the coalition’s explanation failed to refute the grounds for deregistration.
In a statement on Tuesday (Oct 20), the department said it made the decision after examining all documents and representations submitted by PN on Oct 12. The reasons provided, it said, did not offer strong justification to maintain the coalition’s registration.
“In this regard, the Registrar of Societies has decided to cancel PN’s registration under subparagraph 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966,” the statement said.
The move follows a show-cause notice issued to PN on Sept 22 under subsection 13(2) of the Act. The notice gave the coalition an opportunity to explain matters raised in a complaint lodged by component party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). RoS later suspended all PN activities effective Sept 23 under subsection 13(2A), describing the suspension as a measure to prevent further breaches of the coalition’s constitution.
Bersatu’s complaint, received by RoS on Aug 11, alleged that the party was excluded from a PN Supreme Council meeting held on July 16 and raised questions about its membership status within the coalition. The dispute occurred amid a leadership realignment in PN, with PAS taking greater control of the coalition and Bersatu becoming increasingly sidelined.
PN leaders, including secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, had earlier described the RoS notice as issued in bad faith and aimed at applying political pressure. The coalition said it would pursue legal avenues to defend its registration. On Oct 13, the High Court declined to grant an interim stay against the suspension but allowed PN to challenge the matter through judicial review.
RoS has stressed that every registered society must comply with the law and its own constitution. With the deregistration now in effect, component parties can no longer operate or contest elections under the Perikatan Nasional banner. The decision comes ahead of the Melaka state election scheduled for Oct 31.
PN has not yet issued a formal response to the cancellation.
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