KUALA LUMPUR: In a pre-emptive strike, Gerakan has filed an objection with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to prevent Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), or the New Hope Movement, from using the word “Gerakan” in its name.

Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said this is because it is the official name of the Barisan Nasional component party, and the people might be confused by GBH’s use of the word.

Gerakan was registered in 1968 as Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM), but it has always been known as Gerakan.

Moreover, Liang said, many Gerakan members also object to GHB’s use of the word.

“The people would always be reminded of PGRM when they mention Gerakan, but now the PAS progressive faction is planning to register as a new party under [the name of] GHB, which might confuse the public.

“In addition, GHB hails from PAS and Gerakan categorically refuses to be associated with a party that promotes its hudud agenda,” he said in a statement yesterday.

By filing the objection, Liang hopes to stop GHB from registering as a new party using the word.

“According to the Societies Act 1966’s Section 7 (3)(d)(i) and (ii), if the name of a society appears to mislead or resembles the name of another society, then the RoS should directly decline the registration of the society.

“I urge the RoS to look at the matter seriously and stop the PAS progressive faction from registering,” he added.

Talk has gained momentum that GHB, consisting of PAS’ group of moderates who lost in the Islamist party’s polls, will form a new coalition with DAP and PKR, replacing the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 23, 2015.