KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s rejection of any political cooperation with PKR and its allies for the upcoming 15th general election has no effect on the opposition party, which is used to battling political intrigues and injustices, said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The open opposition to such cooperation as aired by the Umno leadership is in fact a reflection of the Malay-Muslim party’s rivalry with its splinter Bersatu, he stressed.
Anwar, who is the parliamentary opposition leader, said it is clear that Umno’s stand only harms the components of the ruling Perikatan Nasional, which is chaired by Bersatu chief and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“Everything that they (Umno) are voicing is actually a manifestation of the opposition to Bersatu, not us.
“PKR is not affected at all by their decision as Umno has never been together on the struggle we have outlined all this while,” the Malay-language portal Getaran quoted him as saying in its report today.
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said this when interviewed after the Meet Anwar function at Flamingo Hotel in Ampang here last night.
The event was organised by the Anwar Ibrahim Club and the Drug Prevention Association of Malaysia’s Selangor chapter in collaboration with PKR’s Ampang branch.
On April 28, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had declared at the Umno 2020 general assembly that the party will not cooperate with DAP, PKR, and Bersatu, or Anwar himself for the upcoming national polls that are due by September 2023.
He said the party will venture alone with fellow components of Barisan Nasional.
According to Zahid, Umno will also adhere to the stand taken by its Supreme Council last February to sever ties with Bersatu for the election, and will decide on collaboration with any other party after the election is over.
Meanwhile, Anwar also said that he is optimistic that PKR will pave a meaningful path in GE15 despite having faced betrayals by members who once held important portfolios in the party.
“I am sure that the grassroots can see for themselves the betrayal committed by these individuals who were important figures at two related branches,” he said.
“But tonight, we can see how the grassroots from Ampang and Gombak (branches) are working hard to provide support and even trying to ensure this ceremony runs smoothly.”
He said the prevailing scenario has given clear indications that grassroots support for PKR has not wavered despite the loss of important individuals from the party.
“I am very confident with what is happening, as the people and the grassroots can assess the real situation.”
Earlier at the ceremony, Anwar had officially handed over PKR membership cards to two well-known entertainment figures, actor-producer Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan and rapper-turned-producer Altimet, whose real name is Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad.
Afdlin and Altimet have joined PKR’s Setiawangsa and Gombak branches respectively.
Interestingly, Altimet’s membership card was handed to him by his mother, Sharifah Jamalah Syed Agil Alsagoff.
Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari who is state PKR chief and actor Datuk Hans Isaac. – The Vibes, April 2, 2021
