Nik Nazmi: If Anwar desperate, he would've ditched DAP to become PM

 

If PKR president Anwar Ibrahim was so desperate to become prime minister at all costs, he could have ditched DAP during the Sheraton Move scramble for power, said Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“Had Anwar wanted to be prime minister, he could have done it ages ago.

“Even as recently as the Sheraton Move he was approached to bring PKR into the new coalition that was being proposed to replace Pakatan Harapan.

"But at that time the condition was, ‘no DAP’ and Anwar did not agree to it," Nik Nazmi told Malaysiakini.

Without revealing who made the offer, the PKR organising secretary said Anwar decided to stick with Harapan and rejected the chance to be in a coalition with Bersatu, Umno, and PAS.

“Anwar was not willing to ditch his ally DAP, as the Sheraton Move backers only wanted PKR and not DAP,” said Nik Nazmi said.

Yesterday, five MPs - Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Independent-Muar), Hannah Yeoh (DAP-Segambut), and Maria Chin Abdullah (PKR-Petaling Jaya) issued a statement cautioning Anwar against working with Umno.

"The road to Putrajaya must not be obtained at all costs," the MPs said, telling the opposition chief that the formation of any coalition must be based on a "noble agenda" and shared value system.

Anwar, during a press conference on Tuesday, confirmed that initial discussions have begun between several PKR leaders and Umno leaders. Anwar also hinted there were Umno MPs supportive of the idea of a collaboration.

Following this revelation, representatives of five opposition parties issued another joint statement yesterday urging Anwar to unite the opposition and reject any cooperation with "kleptocrats". Among the signees of the statement were leaders of DAP and Amanah, which are allies of PKR in their Pakatan Harapan coalition.

The Harapan government collapsed when then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad attempted to form a unity government with himself at the helm in clear violation of the electoral agreement to hand over the premiership to Anwar. - Mkini