After meeting, Harapan leaders confident simple majority in hand

Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad is confident that the remaining Pakatan Harapan parties would be able to maintain a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Why should we waste money when we can get a clear majority?” Khalid (photo) said, when asked about BN and PAS’ call for snap elections earlier this evening.

When asked again, he emphasised that Harapan would have “sufficient” numbers to maintain a simple majority.

He was speaking to reporters outside PKR’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya following a Harapan presidential council meeting.

He said that many “good things” were discussed during the meeting. When pressed for details, however, he told reporters to wait for an announcement tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said Harapan has arrived at a consensus during today’s meeting.

“The decision would be made known tomorrow,” he said.

Other Harapan leaders appeared to be in a jovial mood as they emerged from the meeting, though none would speak to the media.

Among them are PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, PKR advisory council chairperson Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, and DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke.

The coalition’s official Facebook account had posted a photo of the participants at the meeting.

“Pakatan Harapan remains together,” the caption read, despite the conspicuous absence of Bersatu representatives following its departure from the coalition yesterday.

Pakatan Harapan is left with only 102 seats in the Dewan Rakyat after Bersatu and 11 PKR lawmakers led by former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali left the coalition.

At least 112 MPs would be needed to control a simple majority in the house. - Mkini