PKR’s Saifuddin denies saying party open to rekindling flame with Bersatu

KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) has had internal talks among component parties on the possibility of cooperating with non-PH parties following dismal performances in the Melaka and Johor elections, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution confirmed today. 

The PKR secretary-general, however, clarified with The Vibes that PH’s discussions did not go into the specifics of which party they would be open to cooperating with. 

“We have our internal discussions, especially post-Johor elections, and looking at the results and outcome of the Johor polls, we think that we need to engage others. 

“Others meaning non-PH parties,” he said.

Saifuddin also sought to clarify a recent report by a Malay daily that quoted him as saying PKR is willing to work with Bersatu, saying he was never specific about party names. 

He added that his comments in the report were referring to PKR’s position and not the consensus of PH. 

“I was asked if PKR is ready to discuss with all parties, and my response was yes, to all parties. The part about Bersatu was probably inserted.”

In recent weeks, talks of Bersatu seeking to rekindle their partnership with PH surfaced, after president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was given carte blanche by his party to negotiate cooperation with parties he sees fit. 

Among those who have confirmed meeting with Muhyiddin is Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

However, former allies in PH and Parti Warisan Sabah have voiced their disapproval over working with Bersatu again after the Umno offshoot’s involvement in the Sheraton Move coup in 2020 that led to the collapse of the PH administration. – The Vibes, April 10, 2022