KUALA LUMPUR: “They can try.”
That was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s short response over alleged attempts by certain quarters to divide the political cooperation among the parties in Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The prime minister, who is also PH chairman, was asked to comment on a statement by the PH secretarial council yesterday in which they rejected an alleged suggestion by Sembrong member of parliament Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for PAS and Umno to join the current administration without the participation of DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).
Hishammuddin today however denied he mentioned in his writings about sidelining the two parties.
On Sunday, Hishammuddin, who was the former Umno vice president, had penned his thoughts on his social media account, on the importance of unification that must be championed by political leaders.
The former defence minister had also stressed the need for leaders to be courageous and put aside their emotions.
When asked if he had met Hishammuddin over the matter, Dr Mahathir said that he did not meet the former.
Hishammuddin's writings, however, was yesterday shot down by PH secretarial council on the grounds that it would only lead to the return of a race-based political culture and governance.
The council, in a statement, said it holds firm to the principles of "Muafakat PH", which was collectively agreed upon by PKR, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Amanah and DAP to remain in the PH government, of which Parti Warisan Sabah is also a member in the cabinet.
The statement was signed by five secretaries-general of PH’s component parties, including PH secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah; PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution; Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Wira Marzuki Yahya; Amanah secretary-general Datuk Wira Anuar Tahir; and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
The council also urged Hishammuddin and his allies to stop his campaign of espousing the idea of forming a new government without DAP and Amanah.