Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today lamented that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had continued to ignore Pakatan Harapan's application to register its four parties as an official coalition.

After nearly four months since Harapan's application was submitted, Mahathir claimed it was "extraordinary" that the ROS had refused to respond to Harapan's application.

Mahathir pointed out that Harapan had already complied with the ROS' suggestion to amend its logo to include the word "Pakatan".

"We had asked them and they did not respond. Whether they are blind or deaf, I don't know.

"We want to be registered. They are so scared of Harapan," he told a press conference in Alor Setar today after delivering a speech at Amanah's second national convention.

He claimed the delay by ROS is a sign of BN's fear in facing Harapan as a coalition.

"Their only way to beat Harapan is to not allow us to be registered.

"(Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) doesn't dare to face us, so he uses different ways to block us," he said.

Asked whether Harapan is prepared for the possibility that their application will be rejected, Mahathir replied: "we have our ways".

In August, Mahathir said the delay by the ROS had affected Harapan's preparations for the 14th general election as they need a logo to be printed on their campaign materials.

Harapan is attempting to register as a formal coalition in order to contest under a single logo.

However, previous attempts by the opposition to register as a coalition had been unsuccessful.