KUALA LUMPUR: PKR’s deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s efforts to hold talks with Pas on a possible cooperation during the 14th General Election did not go down well among members of the party.
Its vice president Rafizi Ramli said the Selangor Menteri Besar’s move to mend ties with Pas should be done collectively through a national congress.
“I am worried that this issue will drag further, along with Pakatan Harapan in these last few months before the general election. Rationally, any negotiation between PKR and Pas that does not involved Pakatan Harapan’s stand is a futile decision,” said Rafizi in his blogpost, today.
“In many statements, Pas has not only repeatedly rejected invitations from PKR to mend ties, but has also insulted the party.
“The strategy to entertain Pas continously will only hurt members from Pakatan Harapan and may result in us losing a few seats,” he added.
Rafizi said this was because effort to mend ties could make PKR seen as a selfish and unprincipled party.
He urged the party to hold a special congress immediately involving all PKR leaders nationwide to decide on the matter, in accordance to the party’s constitution.
He said the congress would allow both sides to debate the issue and this would allow all PKR members to be responsible without having the need to put the blame on anyone.
“Only decisions made through the special congress, can we be fair to all Malaysians, Pakatan Harapan members and also to ourselves,” Rafizi said.
Yesterday, Azmin reiterated that all discussions between PKR and Pas does not involve Pakatan Harapan.
He insisted that he was only representing his party and the discussions were not his own initiatives.
Earlier, it was reported that PKR’s political bureau had given PKR’s president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Azmin a chance to discuss forming a political pact with Pas and since then, Azmin has been engaging in discussions with the Islamic party.
The political cooperation between Pas and PKR was severed in the former’s delegates conference (muktamar) held in April.
The delegates also approved a motion calling for the party to field candidates in all the seats contested by PKR, should both parties failed to reach an agreement ahead of GE14.
During the conference, the delegates had also approved a motion for the party to field its candidates at all seats to be contested by PKR in the next general election.