No unity talks but Pakatan willing to discuss national issues, says Anwar

(The Star) KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat has rejected the proposed unity talks and the formation of a unity government with Umno.

The three leaders of PKR, PAS and DAP issued a joint statement yesterday reiterating their commitment to strengthening the coalition.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that the agreement was made after the leaders met to discuss the matter in Parliament yesterday.

Anwar, however, said that Pakatan was willing to discuss with Umno and the Barisan Nasional “issues of national interest.”

“We reaffirm our rejection of the idea of forming a unity government with Umno and Barisan, which is clearly a malicious and desperate attempt to compromise our integrity.

“We agree to adopt an open approach and are willing to hold discussions with Barisan leaders on issues of national interest,” he said.

Anwar said the issues of national interest include the economy, quality of education, the judiciary, the PKFZ scandal, abuse of power of the police and corruption.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would not talk with Umno on the unity government proposal.

“The way Umno discusses the issue of a unity government; it looks like it wants to make PAS feel good so that we will leave Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

Hadi and his deputy Nasharudin Mat Isa had been reported to be in favour of such talks but it was opposed by other party leaders and leaders of PKR and DAP.

Earlier, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said that the proposed unity talks was not about PAS and Umno, but was for the sake of the Malay community as a whole.

He said the disunity among the Malays was a worrying trend as it could destabilise the country.

Shafie also rejected the call by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat for Umno to apologise to PAS for backstabbing it 40 years ago.

He said PAS had also done Umno wrong.