The Registrar of Societies has given approval in principle for the registration of Bersatu as a political party.

“I don’t think that after the approval, it will take one or two more years for the election to be held as it will definitely give opportunities for the newly-formed party to gather its strength.

“Secondly, the Opposition pact is still in disarray,” he told reporters after a meeting with state Perkasa chiefs here, Bernama reported.

Ibrahim, who has been seen as a Mahathir ally, kept the new party at arm’s-length from his Malay rights organisation.

He said Perkasa members were free to support any political party as that was their right. But they could not use the non-governmental organisation’s name to associate themselves with the political party concerned.

Mahathir is often named as patron of Perkasa, which he launched in 2010. However in January 2015, he denied he was ever Perkasa’s patron or adviser. He said in his blog that “I am not formally attached to them. However, I must admit that I do support their views. Especially when it comes to reacting against the extremist views of the non-Malays.”

The former premier is chairman of the new party, with former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin as president. The party seeks to replace Umno and remove it from power.