Anwar: PPBM has right to embrace defectors from other parties

TORONTO: PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today sought to allay the apprehensions of Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties, saying the admission of former Umno MPs into PPBM would not be allowed to hijack the declared reform agenda.

Anwar said PPBM has every right to accept defectors from the previous ruling party as long as it does not go against PH’s understanding and agreement for reforms.

According to Anwar, the leader of the biggest partner in PH, PPBM president and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had given the much-needed assurance at the coalition meetings that he is committed to PH’s policies and agenda, as promised to the people.

Anwar, who earlier delivered a talk on “Confronting Authoritarianism” at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, stressed it was important for the PH government, which came to power on public support, to reassure the people of their commitment to reforms for a better Malaysia.

“What should I say? Well, the reform agenda will not be hijacked (despite the acceptance of the defectors from the previous ruling party and coalition). I think we owe it to the public who have supported us.”

Immediately after the general election in May 9, 2018, PKR had 47 MPs, PPBM 13 and DAP 42. PPBM accepted seven former MPs from Umno earlier this week.

In an electoral understanding among PH partners, Mahathir would serve for two years as the prime minister before handing over power to Anwar. -FMT