KUALA LUMPUR: PKR will not open its doors to Umno members who plan to cross over to Pakatan Harapan, said party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan de facto leader, said this was because PKR wanted to remain committed to its reform agenda.
Without giving away names, Anwar admitted that a number of Umno members had approached him recently, expressing their intention to defect.
“Yes, yes... quite a number. I don’t think it’s proper for me to name them.
“I think we have not accepted and I don’t intend to pursue the (PKR) leadership to consider (accepting them)... but I do appreciate the fact that they approached me.
“I made it clear to them that we are a party committed to reform and that we fought in the general election against a corrupt, kleptrocratic government,” he told reporters at PKR vice-president Tian Chua's book launch event here today.
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson member of parliament, was asked to comment on Sabah Umno's mass exodus yesterday (Dec 12).
He was also asked to comment on the disappointment expressed by several DAP leaders, including party stalwart Ronnie Liu, on the purported "reverse takeover of Parti Pribumi Bersatu malaysia by Umno".
Earlier today, former Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin handed over her membership form to PPBM chairman tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I was very clear to them (Umno members) that you can remain in your party or you can become independent.
"But it will be difficult for us to accept (them into PKR) because the general mood of the public is to support PH in the reform agenda,” Anwar added.
Anwar also clarified that his recent meeting with Padang Rengas member of parliament Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz had nothing to do with Umno's crossovers.
“The discussion was open. However, I answered consistently as we are ready to talk and we did not talk about crossovers. We discussed our support for the reform agenda,” he said.
According to online news portal Malaysiakini, Nazri made several requests during the meeting, to which Anwar agreed.
Among others, Nazri requested that Umno would not be dissolved in the event Anwar becomes the next prime minister.
Nazri had also asked Anwar not to harass former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he comes to power.