PUTRAJAYA, Dec 14 ― The electoral pact signed between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Pakatan Harapan yesterday was a "positive development”, said PKR politician Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

"We welcome (it). We need to go through common grounds and policies," he told reporters here after losing his application for the Federal Court to review his sodomy conviction.

"It's a very positive development," he added.

Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan and PPBM signed an agreement for an electoral pact to face Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election.

The agreement outlined seven items, including the formation of a joint technical committee to discuss seat allocations, a common logo and manifesto, and a common framework.

Other items listed in the agreement are to continue negotiations with other parties that are not in the agreement, to ensure only one candidate represents the Opposition in any election, as well as to choose candidates based on their "winnability” factor. Candidate selections will also be done through discussion with all parties.

The agreement also reaffirmed the four parties' commitment to uphold the Federal Constitution, Islam as the federal religion, and to protect the special position of the Malays, Bumiputra, Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the interests of other races.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday said the agreement was the first step before the establishment of a formal Opposition coalition before the next election.

PPBM is chaired by former prime minister Dr Mahathir who sacked Anwar as his deputy in 1998 and vilified him from then until this year.