Registrar Masyati Abang Ibrahim said the RoS had approved the MP’s application for exemption from disqualification on July 20.

“The RoS confirms that approval was given to Rafizi in accordance with Section 9A(4) of the Societies Act 1966,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Rafizi filed the application as he is contesting the post of PKR deputy president against incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali in the upcoming party polls.

Masyati said no special treatment was given to any individual applying for exemption to hold office after being disqualified from holding office in a registered society.

“Each exemption is based on the application made by the individual and processed according to standard operating procedure in accordance with the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335).”

She added however that it was up to PKR to decide whether the person who had received an exemption should be allowed to contest in the polls, in line with the party’s constitution and rules.

As of July 31, she said, the RoS had approved six applications for exemption.

A total of 800,000 PKR members will vote at the party polls which will run from Sept 14 to Oct 13.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was earlier reported as saying that the PKR election committee would determine whether Rafizi, who has two convictions, can contest in the election.

PKR election committee chairman Rashid Din said the committee would decide based on the party constitution.

He said the committee would always ensure that those wishing to contest a post in the party had a clean track record.

“The same goes for Rafizi. The committee upholds the principle that as long as the individual does not violate any regulation or the party constitution, there should be no problem for him to contest.

“Anyone who is not a criminal, a bankrupt or facing disciplinary action by the party can be a contestant,” he told Bernama.