Opposition bloc needs to cooperate among parties and MPs to bring about an agenda to restore the country and the people’s trust.
Five parties in the Opposition bloc have told PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to strengthen the bloc and reject cooperation with any so-called kleptocrats.
“Any cooperation with any party has to be built on this foundation. We need to mobilise efforts and focus on building our strengths as one voice to raise the agenda of the people,” the representatives of five parties said in a joint statement today.
The statement was signed by Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, Parti Warisan Sabah youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, and Parti Sarawak Bersatu member Baru Bian.
They said the Opposition bloc had to work together for an agenda to heal Malaysia as the Perikatan Nasional government had failed to solve the economic, health and political crises during its one-year rule.
Yesterday, Anwar confirmed informal discussions had been held between PKR and Umno figures on a possible collaboration.
However, Anwar said it would be premature to conclude that an agreement had been made.
“I was then asked (in an interview published on Sunday) if I denied the possibility of a cooperation with Umno, so I said: I don’t deny the possibility,” said the Port Dickson MP.
“Malaysia has undergone a year of failures by the Perikatan Nasional administration. Facing this administrative incompetence and economic management during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Opposition bloc needs to cooperate among parties and MPs to bring about an agenda to restore the country,” said the five leaders.
They claimed that in terms of economical, health, and political crises, the PN government has not shown a clear direction or produced plans to that effect.
“This should be utilised by the Opposition bloc by forming a coalition based on the rakyat-centric agenda.
“As PN has failed to prove its competence and willpower, the bloc must take it upon themselves to show leadership by arranging for policies and initiatives aimed at helping the rakyat at large,” the five lawmakers said.
Umno, which is a member of the ruling coalition, has said that it will face the next general election on its own.
Party leaders have also indicated their willingness to work with Anwar and PKR.
Pakatan Harapan collaborating with Umno would not be a unique move. Harapan lawmakers and Umno had joined forces in December to oust Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar.