As long as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) endorses the Pakatan Rakyat common policy, it could join the opposition coalition, said Anwar Ibrahim.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim confirmed today that Parti Sosialis Malaysia was welcome to join Pakatan Rakyat, on the condition that the party endorsed the opposition pact’s Common Policy platform.

This was a direct contradiction to PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution’s statement to FMT this morning that Pakatan would “never” accept PSM into its fold.

“The decision made today is to allow a committee from Pakatan Rakyat to [hold discussions] with the PSM committee,” Anwar told a press conference after a meeting with the Pakatan Rakyat leaders’ council at the PAS headquarters here.

“It’s not just a matter of joining (immediately) because joining means supporting our reform agenda, joining means endorsing our common policy platform. So as far as we are concerned, we take a positive view on this.”

The PKR de facto leader said that as long as the PSM leadership were willing to accept Pakatan’s common policy, then by “the next meeting” the opposition coalition would accept PSM as an ally.

But he was unable to confirm the date for the following meeting, saying only that it would be held “soon”, perhaps even next week.

When FMT pointed out that Saifuddin had said PSM would never become a member of Pakatan, Anwar laughed and quipped: “Don’t provoke me into fighting with Saifuddin.”

He explained that Saifuddin was merely expressing his own views, based on the fact that PSM had yet to accept Pakatan’s common policy.

“But in the meeting just now, we said we would give PSM some room, and we would look into this before any decision was made.

“Saifuddin was there and he agreed,” said Anwar.

PAS is ‘open’

Meanwhile, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said that his party’s dialogue with PSM on June 18 was very “fruitful”.

“PSM aired their views to us on certain issues; PAS gave a commitment that we are always open and ready to listen to their views on issues pertaining to before and after the elections,” said Salahuddin.

“We  ended the meeting with the conclusion that regardless of any issues or problems, we would continue to have talks with PAS as representatives of Pakatan Rakyat.”

The former Kubang Kerian parliamentarian also denied there were talks of joining forces with Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li.

“At this stage, not at all. We are strictly under the Pakatan Rakyat. Any decision made will be under the Pakatan Rakyat. Very clear,” he said.