KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 ― Pakatan Harapan leaders have expressed continued affinity for the Save Malaysia movement led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's refusal to join it.

Parti Amanah Negara lawmaker Khalid Samad claimed the PKR president’s rejection did not extend to “Save Malaysia” in its entirety, and was restricted to personal differences with the former prime minister over his longstanding acrimony with her husband, former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I do not think she does not support the movement per se, it is just that she disagrees with Dr Mahathir. And it is too much to expect her to be on the same stage with him,” the Shah Alam MP told Malay Mail Online this week.

PKR MP Sim Tze Tzin similarly interpreted Dr Wan Azizah’s overt rejection as keeping up appearances, pointing out that she had sent her deputy president, secretary-general and senior leaders to be part of Save Malaysia.

“Yes, we are still working together. I think we started the movement knowing fully well about Mahathir’s position.

“Although, Wan Azizah has her personal views, she keeps it to herself, she will not jeopardise the movement.”

DAP federal lawmaker Teresa Kok too said the PKR president's stance on the Save Malaysia movement will have no bearing on Pakatan Harapan leaders’ part in the movement.

Earlier this week, Dr Wan Azizah revealed to Malay Mail Online that Dr Mahathir's continued attacks on Anwar was the main reason why she refused to be part of the Save Malaysia movement seeking to oust the ruling coalition.

Recently, the former prime minister told The Australian that Anwar did not have the morals to lead the country. In the same interview with the Australian paper, Dr Mahathir also said Anwar — who will be 69 in August — is “too old” to become the country’s next prime minister.

Anwar was Dr Mahathir’s deputy until he was sacked in 1998 over sodomy and corruption allegations.

Dr Mahathir, together with politicians from both sides of the divide and civil society, launched the Citizens’ Declaration on March 4 in a movement called Save Malaysia to push for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s resignation.