No PH cooperation with Bersatu unless everyone’s on board, says Loke

 

Loke Siew Fook says Pakatan Harapan’s immediate focus must be on strengthening the coalition instead of relying on other parties.

PETALING JAYA: Any cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Bersatu can only happen if all the coalition’s component parties agree to it, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said today.

Speaking to reporters at an event here today, Loke said DAP’s stand on the matter was clear.

“For us, it will be difficult to work with Bersatu considering what happened before with the Sheraton Move,” he said, referring to the political realignment involving Bersatu, PAS, Barisan Nasional, and several former PKR MPs that ultimately caused the collapse of the PH-led federal government.

Loke was asked about the possibility of DAP being “overruled” by PKR and Amanah as what happened prior to last year’s Melaka state elections when the two parties allowed former Umno assemblymen to join them despite DAP’s protests.

“That (working with Bersatu) is a major decision. It is different from what happened in Melaka.”

He said such a major decision must be based on consensus, and this meant the agreement of all four PH component parties. Sabah-based Upko is the fourth party in the coalition.

Previously, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub were reported to have said that PH should be open to discussions with any party, including Bersatu, in preparing for the next general election (GE15).

Asked what would happen if DAP’s allies were insistent on working with Bersatu, Loke said the party would “cross the bridge when we get there”.

He said PH’s immediate focus must be on strengthening the coalition instead of relying on other parties.

Separately, on cooperation with other opposition parties, Loke said the “doors were not closed” to other parties, alluding to the likes of Muda, Pejuang, and Warisan.

“To me it is best that we don’t fight with each other.” - FMT