By ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI and EMBUN MAJID
ALOR STAR: PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali today has played down the call by its new partner Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to be made the anchor party in Pakatan Harapan.
He said although he understood the party's intention to attract the Malays and establish itself as an alternative to Umno, Azmin stressed that all parties in Pakatan Harapan are bound to uphold the coalition's common framework and policy.
"We respect the view from all component parties and in the case of PPBM, I can understand their wish, as PPBM is positioning itself as an alternative to Umno.
"The issue that PPBM is trying to hijack Pakatan Harapan's struggle does not arise," he said in a press conference after opening the Kedah/Perlis PKR convention here today.
PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a speech during a rally in Padang Rengas, Perak last night was reported as suggesting that the party, as a Malay-based political party, should be allowed to take charge of Pakatan's struggle to boost the coalition's appeal among the rakyat.
On another note, Azmin said he is optimistic that all non-Barisan Nasional component parties, including Pas will join the opposition coalition to face the upcoming general election.
He said despite their differences, all opposition parties will agree to a common goal which is to win the polls.
"We (PKR) never give up on Pas and we are holding on to the 'tahalul siyasi' (political cooperation) with Pas.
"We value the differences among all the non-BN parties but these are the times for us to focus on common interest," he said.
Azmin said he believed that there would be some changes to Pas' stance on the cooperation with Pakatan once the party concludes its annual general meeting.