Malaysia’s Registrar of Societies (RoS) has rejected several proposed political party names ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16), including Parti Sampai Pagi and Parti Ultimax.
RoS Director-General Datuk Mohd Zulfikar Ahmad said some applications were turned down due to unsuitable or questionable party names.
He explained that names such as Parti Sampai Pagi raised doubts about the seriousness of the applicants, while Parti Ultimax was also among those deemed inappropriate during the evaluation process.
Meanwhile, Parti Hijau was also rejected as it appeared more appropriate for a non-governmental organisation rather than a political party.
72 parties registered, more under review
At present, 72 political parties are officially registered under the Societies Act 1966.
An additional 16 new party applications are still being processed by the RoS.
Out of these, 14 are undergoing security checks, while two are being reviewed for their constitutions.
The approval process may take up to one year before a final decision is made.
Growth of parties remains controlled
Datuk Mohd Zulfikar said individuals have the right to form associations or political parties under the Federal Constitution.
However, only a small number of registered parties do not take part in elections.
He noted that over the past five years, the increase in political parties has remained steady and manageable.
Coalitions and nationwide presence
Many parties have joined major coalitions such as Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Rakyat Sabah, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Across the country, the 72 registered parties collectively operate 100,869 branches.
Of these parties, 41 are based in Peninsular Malaysia, while the rest are located in Sabah and Sarawak.
Compliance and monitoring by RoS
The RoS does not interfere in internal party matters or constitutions, as these are considered final.
Instead, the department focuses on ensuring parties comply with rules and proper procedures.
Warnings are issued when regulations are not followed.
Some parties have previously had their registrations revoked due to issues like failing to submit annual reports or internal conflicts, but were later reinstated.
Datuk Mohd Zulfikar said that strict checks will continue to ensure all party applications meet legal standards.
