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Anwar agrees to special PKR congress to discuss PAS ties

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The PKR de facto leader backs negotiations with PAS for cooperation in GE14, saying there is a need to look at the possibility of avoiding three-cornered fights in the election.

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PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim today confirmed that he had given the nod for PKR to hold negotiations with PAS for cooperation between the two during the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).

The PKR de facto head said he also did not oppose the idea of having a special party congress to gain the party grassroots’ mandate to enable the discussions to continue.

“Speaking personally, and understanding PKR’s democratic spirit, I am not against any wish to implement such a special congress,” he said.

He added that he was also not playing down the concerns of several PKR leaders towards holding talks with PAS due to the perception that the Islamist party had become close to Umno.

He said, however, there might be problems in implementing the decision of the congress immediately as GE14 could take place anytime soon.

“In fact, with the possibility of GE14 taking place within the short term, all decisions need to be endorsed as soon as possible,” he said in a statement today.

Last month, PKR’s Selayang MP, William Leong, resigned from the party’s political bureau, citing disappointment with the party’s move to engage in negotiations with PAS.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli also openly questioned deputy president Azmin Ali for holding discussions with PAS even though the Islamist party had put forward a scenario of it engaging in three-cornered fights with Pakatan Harapan (PH) components and Umno in the election.

Azmin, who is Selangor menteri besar, however, defended the discussion, saying it was based on a decision made by the party.

Rafizi later revealed that there had been discord among party leaders since Anwar was sentenced to serve a five-year prison term for a sodomy conviction in early 2015.

“Even if the political bureau has achieved agreement on something, a certain dissatisfied member will not respect the decision and will raise the issue again at the next meeting to seek a change,” the Pandan MP said on Aug 29 in explaining the reason for his frequent absence at the bureau’s meetings.

He also named the party leaders who either favoured or opposed pursuing cooperation with PAS, saying that the confusion could only be resolved by bringing the issue to the grassroots at a special congress.

This proposal was rejected by PKR leaders who were against Rafizi, including Azmin, who supported the talks with PAS.

Policy not to have enmity with PAS

Anwar today said although PKR was negotiating with PAS, it was still committed to the cooperation with PH, which also comprises PPBM, DAP and Amanah.

He said PKR’s policy was not to be antagonistic towards PAS.

“It was proposed and agreed to by the political bureau before this that the party does not have enmity with PAS and will study the possibility of avoiding three-cornered fights,” he said.

He said the main consideration was for PKR to steer all its strength to face Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in GE14.

In May, PAS decided to terminate its ties with PKR which had lasted for two decades, accusing the party of breaching the conditions of their “tahaluf siyasi” (political cooperation) by campaigning against PAS candidates in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-elections in June last year.

Anwar also acknowledged that he had advised PKR not to break its ties with PAS.

“I had consistently voiced this stand to the leaders of PKR, DAP, PPBM and Amanah,” he said.

“I appeal to my (party) colleagues to consider and cooperate in giving a little space to the president (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and the leaders to explain and determine our next policy and direction in line with PKR’s stand and the consensus with Pakatan Harapan,” he said.

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