Malaysia's Registrar of Societies cancelled the registration of main opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional on October 20, 2026, under the Societies Act 1966. The decision follows a complaint by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Bersatu party alleging exclusion from a coalition meeting by rival Islamist party PAS. Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced plans to launch a legal challenge, describing the ruling as an attempt to weaken opposition candidates ahead of the November 14, 2026 Malacca state election.
Perikatan Nasional deregistered under Societies Act
- ▪The Registrar of Societies issued a formal warning notice to Perikatan Nasional on September 22, 2026, regarding potential de-registration under the Societies Act 1966
- ▪The Registrar of Societies cancelled Perikatan Nasional's registration under subparagraph 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966 on October 20, 2026, after finding the coalition's October 12, 2026 explanation failed to refute grounds for deregistration
Electoral impact and upcoming Malacca election
- ▪The de-registration of Perikatan Nasional prevents its component parties, including PAS and Bersatu, from contesting upcoming Malaysian elections under a single common banner
- ▪The Barisan Nasional coalition and the Islamist party PAS are discussing electoral cooperation for the November 14, 2026 Malacca state election
- ▪Malaysia's Malacca state is scheduled to hold a regional election on November 14, 2026, following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition losing two prior regional polls in 2026
Internal disputes and complaint against PAS
- ▪Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Bersatu party filed a complaint to the Registrar of Societies alleging PAS excluded Bersatu from a July 16, 2026 Perikatan Nasional supreme council meeting in violation of the coalition's constitution
- ▪Perikatan Nasional faces internal leadership disputes between the conservative Islamist party PAS and the Malay nationalist party Bersatu
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