KUALA LUMPUR: All opposition parties, with the exception of Pas, have agreed to make an electoral pact for the next general election.
“There is no problem with an electoral pact. Everyone has agreed. But coalition is another level. We (would) want, of course, to make it stronger so that it is not just (limited) to an electoral pact,” said Pakatan Harapan secretariat chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said in a forum.
Also present were PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) communications director Khalid Samad and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Welcoming the idea of a united opposition for the sake of a one-on-one showdown with Barisan Nasional in the next election, Nurul Izzah said the electoral pact was the “minimum requirement” expected from Pakatan’s component parties.
Echoing her statement, Khalid Samad said that the opposition parties’ goal of bringing down the current government would be the key towards the success of their cooperation.
“It has been done (before) with Pakatan Rakyat. (The cooperation is possible), as long as all parties are committed to toppling Umno and BN as well as forming a new government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mukhriz said the cooperation between the opposition parties was necessary to win the next general election.
“PPBM is fully committed to working with Pakatan. This is the most important point. We have initiated discussions with them. It is a necessity. If we are serious about winning the next general election, it is something we need to work seriously towards.”