KUALA LUMPUR: PKR today insisted that there was nothing wrong with the party's stance over cooperation with Pas.
Its vice-president Dr Shaharuddin Baharuddin, in response to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's comment that the opposition was "having problems" with PKR due to the stance on Pas, said keeping the "doors open" to the Islamic party could prove beneficial for Pakatan Harapan.
“Keeping our doors open to Pas does not mean that we (PKR) are not following the coalition’s stance.
“From my point of view, I feel that certain isolated decisions can be made depending on the circumstances.
“For instance, if we are talking about reducing the election ‘casualties’, this is where working with Pas will help,” he said.
Shaharuddin added that PKR, despite the stance on Pas, would continue to support and uphold Pakatan Harapan’s policies and decisions.
“At the end of the day, we have a similar goal, and that is to take over Putrajaya.
“We will try our best to work with Pas, until we no longer can,” he said.
Commenting on possible three-cornered-fights in the upcoming general election, Shaharuddin said PKR was prepared to face it.
“We are prepared to face such scenario and have done enough research to take on three or even four-cornered-fights.
“But in areas where we can strike a cooperation with Pas, that is when this (cooperation) comes in handy,” he said.
He added that apart from that, in areas unpenetrable by PH, Pas would be able to assist if there was cooperation between them.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said PKR should come up with a timeline in its effort to forge a cooperation with Pas.
This was because the party has been unsuccessful in securing a cooperation with Pas despite trying for almost two years.
“Various efforts and endeavors have been made...even after series of meetings that involved Pas leadership,
"My view is that every effort must have a timeline so that there is certainty and this can facilitate all parties.
“People can clearly see that Pas has been cold about it and instead seen getting closer to Umno-Barisan Nasional,” he said.
“It is not difficult to see that after trying for so long, Pas still chooses to go its own way.
“It is even more important that PKR devotes full effort and energy to help strengthen PH and accept the fact Pas has made its choice.” he said.
The Pakatan Harapan presidential council last Tuesday announced that it would not have any cooperation with Pas ahead of the 14th General Election (GE14).
Yet recently, PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his statement, has urged PKR to keep its "doors open" to Pas.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, had said that the opposition pact had collectively decided not to collaborate with Pas and that an extra party in the coalition would only make seat negotiations even harder.