Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Pakatan Harapan launched minus PAS

A new Opposition front tagged Pakatan Harapan has been launched, bringing together PKR, DAP and newbie Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

Shut out was PAS, a partner in the defunct Pakatan Rakyat. Amanah was formed by a group of former PAS officials who were ousted in the party polls earlier this year.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, in making the announcement yesterday, said the door was still “open for PAS and any other party”.

“The people have high hopes of the Opposition parties working together. This is for the people,” she told reporters after a meeting with the Pakatan Harapan top brass at a hotel in Subang Jaya.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, said a special secretariat would be formed to draft an agreement with common policies and work ethics for the alliance.

She said among the first decisions taken was to name Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the choice for Prime Minister should the coalition wins the next election.

Asked if the coalition would be registered, Dr Wan Azizah said it would depend on the Registrar of Societies (RoS). Pakatan Rakyat broke down following strained relations between PAS and DAP.

Other Opposition leaders who attended yesterday’s meeting included DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Amanah chairman Mohamad Sabu and his deputy Salahuddin Ayub, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Observers included Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Akademi Belia’s Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Azmin, who is the Selangor Mentri Besar, said PAS could still be in the new Opposition front, adding that dialogues were being held with other parties to consolidate the Opposition for the next general election.

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