Those attempting to seize power through the backdoor by saving Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) from impending de-registration could face disciplinary action, said a former party leader.

R Sivarasa, now a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) following PRM's merger with Parti Keadilan Nasional, said the action of a handful of members claiming that PRM is still relevant was a breach of party discipline.

"The resolution on the merger was passed with overwhelming majority. It has legal effect and all PRM members are bound by it, including this group," he said in a telephone interview later.

"They cannot now distance themselves from the merger or PKR. Whether they voted for or against the merger is irrelevant as the decision on the resolution is binding on all once it's been voted on."

He said the PKR leadership would decide on the disciplinary action to be taken at the next meeting which will be held within this month.

"The disciplinary action could range from suspension to expulsion."

Earlier today, Sivarasa together with PKR supreme executive council member Dr Sanusi Osman and deputy secretary-general Ang Hiok Gai held a press conference to clarify claims made by several members.

Expected attendance

On March 31, a group of former PRM leaders told a news conference that a Special National Congress will be held on April 17 in Johor Baru to save PRM from being de-registered. About 100 members who have refused to join PKR are expected to attend.

Among those in the steering committee set up for the congress are Hassan Karim, Koh Swee Yong and Salleh Ahmad.

The previous day, Koh reportedly said that those who did not join PKR wanted to prevent the de-registration of PRM by the Registrar of Societies based on its failure to submit minutes and financial reports for three years.

However, Sivarasa said the group cannot legally challenge the merger decision.

"The court will only look at the validity of the 2000 and 2001 congress meetings, the resolution tabled, the votes cast and the resulting decision.

"In fact, some leaders feel that this is a backdoor attempt to seize power in PRM."

Majority decision

He said it was odd that some members in the splinter group, despite having held posts in the new entity, would now turn around and breach PKR rules and regulations.

"If you didn't agree, then you should have resigned. Instead, you took on high posts in the new entity."

"SK Song, for instance, was a supreme executive council member until last December's congress. He even offered himself as a candidate for a seat in the supreme executive council.

"Hassan also sat as one of four deputy secretaries-general in the PKR transitional supreme executive council until last December."

Sivarasa said every PRM member knew and understood what the decision on the resolution for the merger entailed before a majority voted in favour of it.

"So what these members are doing now in organising a special national congress on April 17 is in breach of that decision."

He thinks the splinter group is confused with the actual scenario of the new entity and the eventual de-registration of PRM as agreed on in the merger resolution.

"There appears to be some misunderstanding and misinterpretation of events. What remains clear is that the motion to merge both parties was approved by an overwhelming majority and every PRM member is bound by that under the party's (PRM) constitution.

During the 2004 general election, he added, Koh contested the Selayang parliamentary seat while Hassan stood for the Pontian parliamentary seat. Both stood under the Keadilan banner then as PKR's registration was still pending.