Saifuddin: Harapan open to discussions with all parties

 

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has clarified that he did not single out Bersatu in declaring Pakatan Harapan's readiness to discuss cooperation with any parties ahead of the 15th general elections.

"I said we are open for negotiations with all non-Harapan parties. I did not specifically mention Bersatu.

"Looking at the results from the Malacca and Johor elections, we are of the opinion that there is a need to involve others," Saifuddin (above) told Malaysiakini.

He said this in clarifying an Utusan Malaysia report, which has since been retracted, that Harapan did not close its doors for discussion with Bersatu to face GE15.

Saifuddin also said any cooperation between parties remains to be at the discussion stage.

"For now, there is no concrete idea. But we are open to discussions.

"No matter what the outcome, it will be a Harapan consensus," said Saifuddin.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had called on Harapan to engage with all opposition parties in going up against BN during the last Johor elections.

Other Harapan leaders had since then shared their views on the "big tent" strategy successfully used in GE14 with Bersatu and Warisan, leading to BN's historic downfall after 60 years.

With GE15 widely speculated to be called before the year-end, there have been further debates on the big tent approach and whether Harapan should continue to engage Bersatu after the latter's role in cutting short its term in Putrajaya through the Sheraton Move. - Mkini