In Muda, Anwar sees 'new friend' for Harapan

 

JOHOR POLLS | PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today publicly embraced fledgling party Muda as a "friend" despite recent friction between the two parties.

At the launch of the Pakatan Harapan election campaign in Johor Bahru today, Anwar began his speech by describing Muda as a "new friend".

"I hope the vote canvassers of each component party will move forward and let bygones be bygones.

"We have to ensure that we have to uphold the people's mandate and defeat BN," he said.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in his speech also acknowledged that there was some "awkwardness" in the past as there was an impression that his party was prepared to go against other opposition parties.

Syed Saddiq said his party was formed to bring reforms and they needed partners to do so.

"As we chart our path, it is important for us to know our enemies and friends," he said.

"We will work together whenever possible. If there are areas where we are unable to do so, we must reduce conflict. Ultimately, our responsibility is to form a government that is not Umno-BN."

Muda, while not an official component of the Harapan coalition, has forged individual electoral pacts with PKR, DAP and Amanah.

However, negotiations have caused unease, especially with PKR and Amanah.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Harapan was compelled to put up a challenge against BN in Johor as the governing of Johor was separate from Harapan's confidence-and-supply agreement with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Anwar acknowledged that while Ismail Sabri had fulfilled some parts of the agreement, everything hinges on the passage of the anti-defection law during the upcoming sitting of Parliament.

"The agreement will not hold if it is not passed by Parliament. That is the line we've drawn," he said.

More: Anti-defection law to lock down MPs but not parties?

- Mkini