DAP SECRETARY-general Anthony Loke has urged all Pakatan Harapan leaders to discuss their views on the political cooperation with other parties at the Pakatan presidential council meetings and not through open statements to the media.
This came Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub had urged the Pakatan leadership to be open to holding discussions with all Opposition bloc parties including those within Perikatan Nasional (PN) ahead of the 15th general election (GE15).
In a statement today (April 22), Loke maintained that this was Salahuddin’s personal view and not a stand that was decided by PH’s presidential council.
The Seremban MP maintained that DAP could not work with PN in GE15 as the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition was still a part of the current government bloc.
The “big tent” concept agreed in the Port Dickson Resolution refers to cooperation within the opposition bloc, Loke clarified.
“I urge all leaders in PH to discuss any views on political cooperation with other parties within presidential council meetings and not through open statements to avoid any confusion among our members and supporters.
“Every decision on PH’s direction and cooperation with those outside the coalition must be jointly decided by the presidential council.”
“Everyone in PH needs to realise that it is very difficult to cooperate with PN in view of the dark history that we have with its component parties [following the Sheraton Move].”
Yesterday, Salahuddin said that discussions with all Opposition bloc parties can take place either formally or informally as part of the “big tent” initiative to ensure that all parties within the Opposition bloc can be united in tackling Barisan Nasional (BN) as well as its lynchpin party UMNO in the coming polls.
He also said that the discussions can also involve PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) so as to “keep the discussions open to all interested parties”. – April 22, 2022
