SHAH ALAM, June 18 ― PKR deputy president Azmin Ali denied today the opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR) no longer exists, despite statements by leaders in the shaky coalition that their partnership is effectively broken.
He said that every relationship has its share of problems, which is where PR's top echelon need to provide leadership to see things through.
“Who said it (PR) is no more? Please refer to the statement made by Datuk Seri president yesterday,” he said, referring to PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, when met at the state mosque here.
Yesterday, Dr Wan Azizah said the opposition pact will no longer function formally as a coalition, following “hasty” decisions by partners DAP and PAS.
She, however, said she hoped the spirit of cooperation between the three parties in Selangor and Penang would continue ― despite the recent developments.
“And in the same spirit, and based on the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework, KEADILAN will continue to give support to the Dato’ Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Datuk Ahmad Yaakob,” Dr Wan Azizah said.
“KEADILAN will continue to pioneer efforts to build a coalition among political parties, non-governmental organisations, groups and influential individuals to defeat Barisan Nasional,” she added.
Earlier today, PAS election director Datuk Mustafa Ali was quoted in media reports as saying that the Islamist party will continue to work with PKR to keep PR alive, saying that the coalition is not dead and merely “pengsan” ― the Malay word for fainted.
In a statement declaring the “death” of PR on Tuesday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for the coalition’s demise, saying the PAS president’s recent actions as well as the Islamist party’s decision at its congress this month to sever ties with DAP meant PR’s Common Policy Framework was broken.
PAS on June 6 confirmed its decision to sever ties with DAP while still remaining in PR with PKR, after its motion to do so was approved without debate.
