Chong flays ROS for stopping Amanah from carrying out activities

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KUCHING: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) “is trying to be funny and nasty” when it announced that Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) cannot carry out any activities before its name is successfully changed from Malaysian Workers’ Party, said StateDemocraticAction State Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

He opined that with such attitude, ROS might end up making a fool of themselves.

“Any party has a right to change its name so long as the name is not offensive or does not carry any racist or seditious elements.

Words like Umno (United Malays National Organisation) with the word Malays in it contains racialist element.

Even MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) contains elements of racialism.

“These names should not be allowed but words like ‘Amanah’ which means trust in English carries positive elements.

It is a positive thing,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on a piece of breaking news from Oriental Daily which pointed out that ROS had not approved Malaysian Workers’ Party change of name to Amanah, and disallowing Amanah from carrying out activities.

Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, asserted that there was no reason for ROS not to approve the proposed change of name to Amanah.

“I don’t think they can come up with any reason not to approve it.

But our country is going upside down now with words like ‘Bersih’ being criminalised.

“It seems like good values are being penalised while bad values are being promoted by the government. For example, the criminalisation of Bersih and the encouragement of the government to hold a rally to promote racism.”

He added the 916 rally “is a rally based on racism”, and regretted that racism had become the trend in Malaysia.

A Bernama report yesterday quoted a statement issued by ROS director-general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah that the prohibition was in line with the provision under Section 11 of the Societies Act 1966.

He said any organisation or party and its office bearers found to have breached the prohibition could face a fine of up to RM3,000, if found guilty.

On Aug 31, Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) chairman Mohamad Sabu (Mat Sabu) announced the formation of Amanah, saying it would register its new name with the ROS.

He added the new party would be launched on Sept 16.

Mat Sabu launched Amanah Sarawak branch on Sept 6 at Grand Continental Hotel here in the presence of Chong and other DAP leaders, but without PKR.

At the launch, Fidzuan Zaidi was entrusted with leading Amanah Sarawak while Mat Sabu assured that the state branch would be given autonomy, saying: “While we do not interfere in your decisions, do work with other parties (DAP and PKR) to face the next election.”