The Malaysian Workers Organisation is prohibited from carrying out any activities or program under the name of Parti Amanah Negara until the name change has been approved by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

RoS director-general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah said, the prohibition was in line with the provision under Section 11 of the Societies Act 1966.

He said the RoS had received a notification from the Malaysian Workers Organisation on the appointment of its new central committee members, which was decided at an extra-ordinary congress held last Aug 25.

"Most of the new committee members are former PAS members who were the party's central committee members for the 2013-2015 session," he said in a statement here today.

However, he said, the organisation's application to change its name to Parti Amanah Negara had yet to be approved.

Mohammad Razin said any organisation or party and its office-bearers found to have breached the prohibition could face a fine of up to RM3,000, if found guilty.

Last Aug 31, chairman of Gerakan Harapan Baru or New Hope Movement (HB), Mohamad Sabu announced the formation of Parti Amanah Negara, which is a re-branding of the Malaysian Workers' Party (MWP), and would register its new name with the RoS.

The former PAS deputy president said the new party would be launched on Sept 16.

According to Mohamad, HB had initially wanted to use the name Parti Progresif Islam (PPI), but their application was rejected by RoS.