Salahuddin: Post-election talks possible as long as Anwar made PM

 

A senior Pakatan Harapan leader has indicated the coalition's readiness to negotiate with all parties if there's a need to form a post-election pact after polling day on Nov 19.

However, it comes with a condition that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim gets appointed as the country’s new prime minister.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said he believed accepting Anwar's position as the next prime minister would be Harapan's only non-negotiable condition.

"At that time, everyone will come to the table and discuss. Everything is possible for me.

"So long as Anwar is prime minister," said Salahuddin (above) who is defending his Pulai parliamentary seat.

"For me now, as one of the Top 5 leaders in Harapan, we must ensure that we remain as the biggest bloc.

"When we become the biggest bloc, others will come to us to negotiate," said the Johor Harapan chief.

Further, Salahuddin said he believes that with the enforcement of the anti-party hopping law, voters are unlikely to be angered by any post-election negotiations in a situation where no one coalition has secured 112 seats needed to form a government.

"As long as that time we select the best prime minister and the best cabinet for Malaysia," he added.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim

The 15th general election has seen participation from four coalitions - Harapan, BN, Perikatan Nasional and Gerakan Tanah Air - as well as individual political parties and Independents.

Last night, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said BN is ready to be the dominant bloc in a mixed government, in the event it failed to win 112 seats.

However, Ismail Sabri, who is an Umno vice-president, said it was still too early to decide which parties BN might work with, adding it was very likely that they would invite Sarawak’s GPS grouping party as well as Sabah’s GRS.

On the other hand, PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has so far declined to reveal his coalition's stance in the event of a hung Parliament, saying to do so before polling day would be tantamount to admitting defeat.

Meanwhile, GTA interim chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad earlier today said his coalition will not be cooperating with Umno and would instead look at options from Sabah and Sarawak. - Mkini