On 20 April 2010, the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) officially joined as a member of the Pakatan Rakyat after being expelled from Barisan Nasional, but quit the coalition on 6 May 2011.

Barisan Alternative was the banner and policy position document which a group of Malaysian opposition political parties (DAP, KeADILan, PAS and PRM) endorsed and coalesced around for that election.

In October 2009, the ROS stated that Pakatan Rakyat could formally register as a coalition, as "The condition does not apply to political parties as they enjoy a national status.

[6] On 4 November 2009, Pakatan Rakyat officials told the press that they had submitted a formal application to the ROS, naming Zaid Ibrahim as the chairman of the alliance.

[7] PKR MP and Information Chief Tian Chua publicly denied this, saying the coalition had not yet decided on a constitution, logo, or leadership structure.

In November 2011, Pakatan Rakyat appointed PAS central committee member Kamarudin Jaffar to make a fresh application, but RoS director-general Abdul Rahman Othman claimed Kamaruddin had never approached his department.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang have been noted to have told off Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for failing to consult Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and civil society regarding POTA.

[17] Many PR supporters who felt let down by their MPs vented their anger through the social media and news portals questioning their commitment in standing walking the talk against what they claimed to be an oppressive law.

[21][22] Mohamed Fudzail for The Malaysian Insider demand them to stop making dramas and this only prove the perceptions that lawmakers from either side will always take their position for granted.

[28][29] Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, a pro-Opposition NGO, slammed PR lawmakers who play truant while passing important bills.