SUBANG JAYA, Sept 22 ― Former Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and PAS MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar turned up for today's session organised by PKR to discuss the formation of a new pact to replace Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

But it is understood that both leaders agreed to attend today's roundtable talk based only in their personal capacity.

“Saifuddin Abdullah is here in personal capacity, an invitation was extended to him,” a PKR aide told Malay Mail Online.

Former PAS information chief Mahfuz said he was here as an independent observer, after it was pointed out to him that his party has stated that they will not attend today's meeting.

“I am here as a guest, an observer. I am here today in my capacity as the Pokok Sena MP,” he told reporters.

Other leaders present here include PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and secretary-general Anuar Tahir.

On Sunday, Dr Wan Azizah insisted that the replacement for PR must take in PAS to have any chance of defeating Barisan Nasional in the next general election, saying this was not possible with just PKR, DAP and Amanah.

She had said she was aware that PAS will not attend today’s roundtable talks on the formation of the new opposition pact, but added that PAS was welcome should they change their mind.

PKR has repeatedly urged former allies DAP and PAS to put aside their hostilities and direct their energies towards defeating BN.

PKR and PAS were expected to discuss a new opposition coalition to replace the defunct PR, but Dr Wan Azizah said last week talks are still ongoing with no conclusion anytime soon.

PAS said earlier it will remain in the opposition bloc when Parliament reconvenes next month, but has not made a decision on joining a new pact with the other three parties.

PR, which had comprised PKR, PAS and the DAP, broke up earlier this year over the Islamist party’s renewed push to enforce hudud in Kelantan.

DAP has since insisted it will not join any coalition with PAS in it.