After burying hatchet with PAS, PKR calls for opposition truce

(Malay Mail Online) – PKR has urged opposition parties to cease hostilities between themselves today, just days after courting Tumpat MP Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar and former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib from ally PAS.

After a meeting with the Islamist party ahead of the Dewan Rakyat meeting next month, PKR said all the four parties — itself, DAP, PAS and Parti Amanah Negara — should redirect their focus to common enemy Barisan Nasional (BN).

“We will be together on mutual issues as opposition… We should not be too hostile with each other, and redirect it to BN,” PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli told reporters outside the party’s headquarters.

“There are many misfires and crossfire within the four parties, not just with DAP. Between PAS and PKR, between PKR and Harapan Baru, with DAP,” he added, referring to Amanah’s precursor Gerakan Harapan Baru.

Kamaruddin and Muhammad joined PKR on Friday, with the former saying that he remained committed to strengthening the federal opposition and pledged to support his former PAS colleagues who are in Amanah.

The jump angered PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, who said he was disappointed in the move as they have always tried to nurture good relations between the two parties.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the issue was not discussed in the meeting today, with elections director Datuk Mustafa Ali saying PAS has “let bygones be bygones”.

PKR and PAS were expected to discuss a new opposition coalition to replace the defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said 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.

“We need to be together at least on national issues while we sort out the working relationship,” Rafizi said today.

PR, comprising PKR, PAS and the DAP, broke up earlier this year over PAS’ renewed push to enforce hudud in Kelantan.

DAP has since insisted it will not join any coalition with PAS in it.