Dr M’s new party can lead to bigger, informal opposition bloc, Pakatan secretariat says

(MMO) – The new party set to be formed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can lead to a bigger opposition bloc which does not have to be a formal coalition, Pakatan Harapan secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said today.

“An opposition bloc that is united and strong does not have to be in a formal coalition. It can be Pakatan Harapan consisting of more than the current three parties, it could be Pakatan Harapan plus plus,” he said in a statement.

Pakatan Harapan currently consists of PKR, DAP and the recently formed Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

PAS and Ikatan form another block of opposition parties, while there is expected to be a new opposition coalition called Saksama in East Malaysia in time for the next elections.

There have also been reports that Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who recently quit Umno, will start his own party in Sabah.

“Though we at Pakatan hope that individuals without a party would join us, we understand the different dynamics. Sabah for example has its own political dynamic. So, if Shafie forms his own party, we will understand. What is important is that we cooperate with them in Sabah,” he said.

Former Umno leaders such as Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir are all without a party after being sacked following criticisms of Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Saifuddin said all opposition parties do not have to agree to be on the same page immediately, but stressed that the first step is for the parties to stop attacking each other.

“We stop attacking each other first. Let’s talk heart to heart,” he said.

He said the priority eventually is to have an opposition bloc that would agree to take on Barisan Nasional in straight fights.

The party to be formed by Dr Mahathir comes as a follow-up to the Save Malaysia movement which he led while teaming up with former political foes such as DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and also civil society members calling for Najib’s resignation and institutional reforms.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also parliamentary opposition leader, has so far not taken part in the Save Malaysia movement or discussions regarding the new party.

Her husband, former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for a sodomy conviction.