KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — PKR insisted today that the replacement for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) must take in PAS to have any chance of defeating Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election, saying this was not possible with just it, DAP and Amanah.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that she was aware that PAS will not attend this Tuesday’s roundtable talks on the formation of the new opposition pact, but added that PAS was welcome should they change their mind.
“To win (the) election, our system is first past the post. We need everybody who are actually together on the common platform... if we are together, then majority wins,” she told reporters after attending a dialogue on coalition government and coalition building in Malaysia.
“It’s a matter of numbers. We need the numbers,” she added.
Earlier during her speech at the event, Dr Wan Azizah said that this Tuesday’s roundtable meeting will determine the alliance’s future and whether it will function as formal coalition, electoral pact or just remain as divided opposition parties.
“September 22 will be our day of reckoning; (whether) we move together towards a common future or remain stuck in a self-made political prison of the past,” the federal opposition leader said.
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.
