Following yesterday's call by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council for unity among opposition parties, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah and Amanah Senator Raj Munni Sabu have urged the coalition to formally invite other parties to join.
The trio said this is to further ensure the support Harapan has obtained from other opposition parties.
"After the eighth prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned, Malaysia had to face the crisis of national leadership once again.
"Although Harapan and the opposition parties managed to nominate PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as the sole candidate for the ninth prime minister, the total of 105 support (of MPs) he had was still insufficient.
"Harapan needs to maintain and strengthen the support it has garnered from other opposition parties," they said in a joint statement.
"In this regard, we recommend that Harapan immediately make an official invitation to all opposition parties consisting of Warisan, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu (Upko) and United Sarawak Party (PSB) to join Harapan," they added.
Former deputy minister Yeoh is from DAP, Maria represents PKR and Raj Munni was appointed to the Dewan Negara by Amanah.
'Please hurry'
They said that the total support of 105 opposition MPs demonstrated on Aug 18 needs to be maintained and further refined through a more formal understanding towards the next general election.
"This step is also very much in line with the intention and stance that has been expressed by Harapan to build cooperation among the opposition parties according to the 'big tent' framework.
"This togetherness needs to be tied tightly so that the strong support and strength of the 105 (MPs' support) can convince the people in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak that Harapan is the most appropriate choice to lead the country. Please hurry," they urged.
'Big tent' is a political term for a party or coalition's policy of including a broad spectrum of ideological views among its members.
This call echoes the Harapan presidential council first statement yesterday after Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in as the new prime minister, which stated its renewed commitment to the "Port Dickson declaration".
"Preparations for the 15th general election will be intensified including seat negotiations, manifesto, leadership, candidates, and strategies to win the people's mandate.
"At the same time, in line with the Port Dickson declaration on April 9, and in order to unite the strength of the entire opposition bloc, Harapan takes a position of openness to negotiate and cooperate under the 'big tent' concept based on the reform agenda and the people's interest.
"The effort to unite the opposition's strength under a big tent must be given priority over political manoeuvrings exploited by certain parties to grab power and positions which are to the detriment of the country," read the statement jointly signed by Anwar, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
The presidential council also reiterated its commitment as a coalition led by Anwar who is the Harapan chairperson. - Mkini
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