PKR MP urges Anwar to reject Najib's support

 

PKR's Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has urged party president Anwar Ibrahim to reject former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's support.

Meanwhile, a former PKR leader also questioned what offers were made that Najib would support Anwar.

This is after Najib suggested that BN consider backing Anwar, on the condition that DAP is not in the picture, and with Umno being given a role in the country's finance and economy.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Hassan (photo, above) said that working with the former Umno president would not be a wise move.

"As a PKR MP, I can't accept Najib. I hope the PKR president as the Pakatan Harapan chairperson (will be) wise in not cooperating with Najib.

"Najib is already setting conditions that he doesn't want to work with DAP if he supports Anwar. Who is Najib to set conditions?" Hassan said.

The PKR president had previously claimed to have the numbers to form a new government.

Najib, together with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had purportedly signed a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong voicing support for the PKR president.

Zahid's aides claimed the letter was fake, but Najib has kept mum on the matter.

The animosity between Umno and DAP has also been a sticking point in Anwar's plans.

Hassan said that PKR should not sever ties with DAP just to work with Najib.

"Malaysia needs to be governed by a coalition of multiracial parties. PKR and DAP are two core parties that can bring Malaysia forward," he said.

However, he has no problem if PKR works with individuals from Umno who are clean from corruption and have integrity.

Meanwhile, former PKR deputy youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin (photo) questioned why Najib was supporting Anwar.

"What was offered to Najib that he is willing to support (Anwar)?" he tweeted.

Afif is aligned to Anwar's rival Azmin Ali. They have both since joined Bersatu following the change of government in March.

Another Azmin ally, PKR vice-president Tian Chua, said it was too premature to decide on Najib's support for Anwar.

"We first must wait for BN's decision and also whether Muhyiddin has resigned or not.

"If anyone were to lead the next govt, it must be inclusive, and all parties must have a consensus in order to ensure political stability.

"We cannot just talk about PKR, but we have to put the interest of the whole nation as a priority," he told Malaysiakini.

Tebrau MP Steven Chong, meanwhile, said Najib as a lawmaker had the freedom to support anyone he wants as long as there are no strings attached.

As for Rawang assemblyperson Chua Wei Kiat, he said if given a choice between a Harapan led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, or one where Najib is a backbencher, he would choose the latter.

"This is because the PM has almost absolute power. And no one has a right to prevent an individual from supporting anyone," he said.

The collapse of the Harapan government in February, and their subsequent failure to retake power, has been blamed on the animosity between Mahathir and Anwar, and the former's refusal to cede power to the latter. - Mkini