Harapan leaders allowed to talk to opponents, says Guan Eng

 

Pakatan Harapan leaders are allowed to hold discussions with the coalition's opponents, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

However, the top three Harapan leaders - PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Lim - must consult each other before doing so.

He said that this was a decision made by the Harapan presidential council.

"Except for the top three leaders from DAP, PKR and Amanah, many MPs and leaders from all three parties in Harapan have, on their own accord, held many discussions on their own with political opponents.

"However, such discussions are subject to both approval from their respective party leadership and the Harapan presidential council for it to take effect," he said in a statement.

Lim (above) was responding to what he termed as "unfavourable" news reports which claimed that DAP MPs consorted with Perikatan Nasional (PN), resulting in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's olive branch on Aug 13.

Damansara MP Tony Pua

This morning, Sin Chew Daily, citing an anonymous source, claimed that Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had discussed the matter with Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming and Damansara MP Tony Pua.

Later, The Star cited an anonymous source who claimed that DAP was the "most willing" to enter discussions and that there were "multiple meetings".

Pua did not respond to Malaysiakini's request for comments. Ong could not be reached for comment.

Both Pua and Ong had publicly stated that Harapan should at least listen to what Muhyiddin had to offer before making a decision.

Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming

However, Harapan's presidential council and other opposition parties have rejected Muhyiddin's offer outright, within hours of it being made.

In a separate statement, DAP veteran central committee member Lim Kit Siang said Harapan must be "open-minded" about discussions that could potentially end the Covid-19, economic and political crises.

However, he said the discussions must be subject to two principles - one, Muhyiddin must offer a "game-changing" plan to bring Covid-19 under control.

Secondly, Muhyiddin must secure the approval of DAP and Harapan that the plan was in the best interest of the country.- Mkini