BN should be declared illegal as one of its key component parties, Umno, is also illegal, claimed DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Lim said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) has illegally allowed Umno to postpone its party elections, which were due yesterday, meaning that the party is illegal as of today.

"The ROS has no such power, whether under the Umno constitution or the Societies Act, to grant such an extension.

"This means that from today, Umno has become an illegal political party. This also means that BN has become an illegal political coalition, as one of its component parties has become an illegal political party.

"This would mean that in the 14th general election, the BN 'dacing' (scales) symbol cannot be used, for the 'dacing' has become illegal as well," Lim said in a statement today.

The ROS had granted Umno an extension for its party elections, citing a provision which allows the supreme council to delay its leadership elections by 18 months.

However, critics say this provision can only be used once, and point out that the party had done so in 2016. Umno last held its party elections in 2013.

Previously, the ROS had cited problems with Bersatu's status as the reason why opposition pact Pakatan Harapan could not be registered.

However, it is unclear if Umno's deregistration would have the same effect on BN.

In 2004, a BN component party, PBDS, had also been deregistered, without any effect on the ruling coalition.