KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional will initiate disciplinary action against Bersatu for acting against the coalition's interests.
PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the action would be taken under Clause 15 of the coalition's constitution, with a notice to be served soon.
He said Bersatu would be given a period to explain itself over the charges brought against it before any further action is finalised.
Takiyuddin said the decision to initiate disciplinary action, which could result in a warning, suspension or expulsion, was agreed upon at an emergency meeting of the Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council tonight.
He said, in the worst case scenario, Bersatu could be expelled from the coalition.
"It could be either one, depending on the severity of the charges, whether they are serious or not," he told reporters after the meeting.
Takiyuddin said the coalition would follow the usual procedure for disciplinary proceedings and set out the charges in a letter to Bersatu.
"It's not a case of giving it today and being penalised tomorrow," he said.
He likened the process to a civil suit, saying a party that fails to respond would be deemed to have admitted the charges and could face the maximum penalty.
"In court proceedings, if A sues B and B does not respond or enter a defence, A can obtain a judgment in default," he said.
He also compared it to the Registrar of Societies' action against the coalition.
"The Registrar of Societies told us to answer, so we are telling Bersatu to answer," he said.
Takiyuddin said one example of acting against the coalition's interests was contesting against Perikatan Nasional candidates.
"Out of 24 seats, eight seats clashed with Perikatan Nasional," he said, referring to the Negri Sembilan state election.
Asked whether Bersatu Selangor's reported cooperation with the state government would also be considered, he said the coalition's lawyers would study the matter.
The meeting, chaired by PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, was attended by all deputy chairmen except Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The deputy chairmen comprise the presidents of all PN component parties.
Takiyuddin said all four Bersatu members of the Supreme Council were invited, namely Muhyiddin, Wanita Perikatan Nasional chief Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Bersatu Youth chief Muhammad Hilman Idham, but only Muhyiddin informed him that he could not attend.
The Registrar of Societies deregistered Perikatan Nasional on Oct 20 following a complaint by Bersatu over its exclusion from the coalition's July 16 Supreme Council meeting.
However, the court allowed a stay on the RoS suspension and deregistration orders pending the disposal of an application for a judicial review.
The RoS and the government have since appealed the decision.
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