Keadilan's upcoming 4th annual general assembly this Sunday will not deliberate on the merger with PRM as the matter had been decided last year, said the party's secretary-general Sahri Bahri. today.

Sahri said the proposed merger itself is a non-issue as it had been deliberated and agreed upon in the emergency general meeting convened in June 2001.

"Although it fell short of the two-third majority required to amend the necessary provisions in the constitution, the EGM then passed a resolution agreeing in principle on the merger between the two parties," Sahri said.

"Further, it also mandated the supreme council leadership to undertake all necessary measures to facilitate the process," he added when contacted.

'No obstacles'

Sahri said it is in this context that the forthcoming EGM is construed and there will be no more debate on whether the parties should merge or not.

Instead, delegates will debate on the amendments to the party's constitution, he added.

He said the supreme council will spearhead the motion to amend the constitution in discharging its duties to facilitate the merger process.

Sahri does not foresee any obstacles and is confident that the agreement will be sealed this year.

"God willing, no (obstacles). I'm confident that the tangible strength, synergy and opportunities derived from the merger far outweigh the psychological concerns," he said.

"The current and future political challenges ahead necessitated that we consolidate, and hence merge. I hope the delegates share this view," he added.

Changes

Keadilan's AGM this year will be held in Sungai Petani, Kedah, reflecting the party's interest in making inroads into the state that is the homeland of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and a stronghold of its opposition ally PAS.

The merger with PRM has been stalled for more than a year due to Keadilan's inability to convince its delegates to amend the party's constitution accordingly.

The amendments include renaming Parti Keadilan Nasional as Parti Keadilan Rakyat Malaysia and adding PRM's red on each side of Keadilan's turquoise blue logo with two white crescents at the centre.

A change in several leadership positions and the number of supreme council members to include PRM leaders in the new party is expected to form part of the debate.

The parties signed a 13-point memorandum of understanding to expedite the merger in July.