[UPDATED] Proposal for PKR-Amanah merger submitted, but leaders haven’t deliberated: Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR – A formal proposal on a merger of two Pakatan Harapan component parties – PKR and Amanah – has been submitted but their leaders have yet to put the matter up for discussion.

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that any proposal for the good of the two parties is feasible but it will have to be deliberated upon.

However, Anwar said the merger idea has not been brought up for discussion although there are members who are talking about it openly.

When pressed whether there has been a formal proposal, he said: “Yes, yes it was submitted and it is in the knowledge of the leaderships of Keadilan (PKR) and Amanah. But we have not explored this further.”

Asked if the official deliberations between the two parties have started, he said: “Not yet, not yet. Some members are throwing around some ideas.” 

“Whatever views that we hear, we will discuss. There is no problem,” he told reporters after visiting the morning market at Taman Bukit Angkasa, Kg Kerinchi, in Lembah Pantai here.

Also present were his wife and former party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil.

The merger idea was made public yesterday by former Selangor PKR Youth chief Najwan Halimi, who said both parties have similar political direction – for example, in upholding the reform agenda, social justice, and championing the rights and welfare of the people.

“The entry of Amanah into PKR will surely help raise support and build the confidence of the people, especially Malays in rural areas, specifically in the bid to win their support for the upcoming general election,” Najwan said in a statement posted on social media.

“Through the merger, there will surely be a consolidated machinery for both parties at the grassroots level, while solving the issue of seat allocations that has all this while been a challenge to both parties.”

He had issued the statement in response to political analyst Wong Chin Huat suggesting Amanah and PKR become a single party.

Price hikes ‘insane’

Meanwhile, Anwar touched on the rising prices of food and groceries after receiving some feedback from stall operators at the market.  

He said that the government should act by liberalising imports instead of continuously imposing controls against basic foodstuff from other countries.

He added that the government should especially provide some kind of support to reduce transportation cost as that is attributed to the rising prices of daily goods.

Anwar said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and Fisheries Development Authority should urgently step in to help reduce cost as well.

He added that the prices of goods are increasing at an “insane level” but salaries and allowances are not going up.

For example, he said, the price of chicken had increased from RM9 to RM19 per kg.

Calling the issue a crisis, he urged the government to take immediate action.

Anwar said that a cabinet committee needs to be formed to address the issue of the rising prices of basic necessities, and that the proposal has been raised in Parliament. – The Vibes, December 1, 2021