Despite hurtful remarks, Harapan still intact - Anwar

Pakatan Harapan is still intact despite disagreements over who should be their candidate for prime minister, said coalition chairperson Anwar Ibrahim.

However, he acknowledged there were hurt feelings over the disagreement.

"I see on social media there is fighting going on, and this is not fair (to Harapan parties).

"This may be because Anthony Loke and Khalid Samad's statement is kind of harsh, offensive (menyinggung) and hurtful, but that's okay, it is a small matter," Anwar said in a Facebook live video tonight.

On Friday, DAP's Loke and Amanah's Khalid released a statement saying Anwar had failed to secure support from GPS in order to retake Putrajaya.

They also said they were puzzled by PKR's refusal to back Mahathir as a prime minister candidate, claiming the party had agreed to it during a Harapan meeting on May 30. 

Anwar tonight said DAP and Amanah's support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to become prime minister, was just another, longer route to making an Anwar-premiership a reality, and they had never strayed from this goal. 

"Harapan is still strong. PKR, DAP, and Amanah - there are no voices that want to weaken the coalition. We have gone through a lot together," he said.

Anwar said Harapan was not a pact formed only to fulfil current needs such as to "squabble for the prime minister post or topple PN only."

Instead, it was a coalition based on a reform agenda, and to better the economy for the people.

Anwar said there were also no more traitors in Harapan and that PKR's disagreement with DAP and Amanah did not mean the latter had forgotten their friendship.

"This does not mean they have forgotten (PKR's) contributions and service, that is not true," he added.

Anwar's aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak (photo) had previously attacked DAP and Amanah for backing Mahathir.

"DAP and Amanah should state their stand behind the man who brought us all together.

"Is this how you repay Anwar for a friendship built over 20 years?" he had said.

DAP and Amanah, however, are in favour of Mahathir having a third stint as prime minister for six months, with Anwar as his deputy.

Mahathir's allies have argued that he was more palatable to the East Malaysian bloc, which is instrumental in the formation of any majority.

However, PKR has refused to accept this. - Mkini