Announcing this, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party’s application was given the nod by the RoS today.

“The party however, is to be known as PPBM and they will not be able to use the short form ‘Bersatu’, as there are six other political parties and organisations that have the word ‘Bersatu’ in their official names,” Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said at a ministry gathering here this morning.

Early last month, former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin filed an application to register the party, with him being the protem president.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be the chairman of the party, which is largely touted to be a rival to Umno.

Mahathir’s son, Mukhriz, who is also former Kedah menteri besar, is the protem vice-president, which makes him second in command to Muhyiddin. Meanwhile, former Langkawi Umno member Ainina Saadudin is the treasurer.

PPBM’s membership is for Bumiputera citizens only – including those from Sabah and Sarawak, – although, it is also open to all other Malaysians, but only as associate members.

Muhyiddin had previously said the party’s main agenda included institutional reforms and the pursuit of justice in order to protect the rights of every Malaysian citizen.

Meanwhile, PPBM secretary Kamarulzaman Habibur Rahman said they have no issues with the RoS ruling that stipulated the party is only allowed to use its acronym and not the short form “Bersatu”.

“We have already submitted the acronym for the full name as PPBM. It’s a matter of principle, we will keep it that way.

“If (the people) want to call us by any other name, it’s fine. As long as they know what the name of our party is,” he told FMT when contacted.

He likened the situation to Umno Baru being called as just Umno.

“If people want to call us ‘Bersatu’, then we can’t stop them.”