KUALA LUMPUR – In an apparent bid to defuse rising tensions between PKR and other Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties, PKR’s central leadership council today pledged to continue strengthening the coalition, while increasing cooperation with other members.
In a statement today, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said such cooperation was seen when parliamentary opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had invited all opposition party representatives to discuss strategies prior to the tabling of Budget 2021.
“Since PKR's establishment in 1999 and participation in the general election that year, as well as in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018, it has always supported the principles of cooperation, understanding, and political coalition through Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat, and now PH.
“During that period, this cooperation, understanding, and political alliance adhered to the principles of supporting the reform agenda and rejecting corruption and cronyism in the country.
“Therefore, PKR will always evaluate current political developments jointly, and will continue with all election machinery preparations and discussions related to GE15 based on that assessment," the statement said.
Fahmi, who is Lembah Pantai MP, also announced the council’s reaffirmed commitment to prioritising a minimum of 30% of PKR women members in the nomination of candidates and political appointments.
Talks are rife of a fracture within PH's ranks following a joint statement issued on Thursday by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
Both leaders called on the coalition to stop wasting time on “opportunistic” Perikatan Nasional backbenchers who are exploiting opposition members, adding it needed a reset.
Following the statement, several Amanah grassroots members have been promoting a grand coalition to reunite all opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
However, in a swift response, Selangor PKR Youth said it is willing to discuss the possibility without including Pejuang founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is Langkawi MP.
Presently, opposition MPs number 108 in the Dewan Rakyat, with PH having 91 seats, followed by Warisan-Upko (nine); Pejuang (four); Parti Sarawak Bersatu (two), Muda (one), and a sole independent.
Meanwhile, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang confirmed in a statement today that his party’s leadership had never proposed to change the opposition leader.
He also expressed bewilderment over PH and PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s reported opinion that Anwar could still produce parliamentary numbers to form a new government via statutory declarations.
“I am taken aback by the latest statement of the PH secretary-general, as he must speak on behalf of all three parties in the coalition and not for only one,” Lim said. – The Vibes, December 20, 2020
