Warisan willing to work with Anwar – but with conditions

 

Warisan’s Darell Leiking says any cooperation must look at the way forward and ‘a reset’ while PSB’s Wong Soon Koh says they will remain ‘fully independent’.

PETALING JAYA: Warisan welcomes the invitation by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to work with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition – but its support comes with conditions.

Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking said the party’s working relationship with PH dated back to when they formed the federal government in 2018.

The Penampang MP added that Warisan was not part of PH but had supported Anwar, even as recently as last week when they were asked to name their choice for prime ministerial candidate.

Leiking told FMT he wished to address the misconception that Warisan did not throw its backing for Anwar for the hot seat.

“A lot of people were confused and we are still getting complaints from friends and acquaintances, especially from the peninsula saying: “If only Warisan supported him, Anwar would have already become the PM.

“They thought the 105 MP votes (for Anwar) were solely PH’s but in reality they had only 88 but were working with other opposition parties, including Warisan, to produce 105 votes … even Dr Mahathir Mohamad supported him.”

Leiking added that the invitation by Anwar “was good” but future discussions should be centred on charting the way forward for the opposition.

“The discussions must be sincere and they must be willing to listen to a new way forward or a ‘reset’ in the way we garner support for GE15.

“It’s no longer a numbers game, as we have tested that. Now it’s about facing the next polls,” he said.

Earlier today, Anwar said he would meet leaders of other opposition parties to invite them to join or work with PH.

In a statement, PH’s presidential council said this was in line with the coalition’s “big tent” concept in strengthening the opposition bloc, which currently comprises 105 MPs.

Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), however, has made it clear it is not keen on working with PH, although it supported Anwar’s bid to be named prime minister.

Party president Wong Soon Koh said they would not enter into an alliance with PH and intended to remain a fully independent multiracial party that would fight for the rights and welfare of all Sarawakians.

“We supported PH based on the principle that the wishes of the voters in GE14 must be respected,” Wong said.

He added that PSB respected the decision of the rakyat during GE14 and would not sacrifice its principles for political expediency. - FMT