SHAH ALAM: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today confirmed that there was a discussion with Umno Supreme Council member Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz on the possibility of the latter joining PKR.
Anwar, who is also prime minister, said the discussions were still in the preliminary stages.
"There have been initial discussions.
"The principle is that we adopt an open approach, welcoming individuals who can contribute to the party but we do so in a proper manner to maintain good relationships with other parties, including Umno and our allies.
"So far, in terms of policies and our experience in Pakatan Harapan, we neither encourage nor do we ever obstruct them.
"Instead, we respect their decisions and foster good relationships between the parties," Anwar said after attending the party's special convention here today.
Anwar, who is also PH chairman, said in the past, PKR also had several leaders who used to be the leaders of other PH component parties.
Anwar noted that some Umno leaders had also joined the party in the past.
"The principle is that PKR is open.
"We had leaders who were once the Parti Amanah Negara secretary-general, leaders from DAP who became our candidates, and some of our candidates moved in and out of DAP," he said.
In the past, former Bukit Bintang and Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong joined PKR after leaving DAP, while the party's first secretary-general, Datuk Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir later joined Amanah to become its first secretary-general.
Anwar's response came after rumours swirled over the possibility of Tengku Zafrul, who is the Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister, leaving Umno for PKR.
On Friday, the media reported that intense negotiations were underway over the possibility of Tengku Zafrul leaving Umno for PKR, according to sources within Selangor Umno.
The source claimed that if Zafrul were to join PKR, the announcement is likely to be made on Sunday during PKR's congress.
The source also claimed members from Tengku Zafrul's camp were finalising negotiations with their PKR counterparts over the matter.
Meanwhile, another source close to the matter said Tengku Zafrul was expected to play a bigger role in Selangor's administration and economic progress.
Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded unity government component parties not to poach party members from other parties in the coalition.
Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, said if such a situation were to happen, it would offend other parties in the government.
Earlier today, Tengku Zafrul, at an event in Sungai Besar, said he would be issuing a statement on the matter soon.
"All I know is there is a lot of speculation out there. To address this issue, Insya-Allah, I will issue a statement in the near future," he said.
Tengku Zafrul, in April, had resigned as Selangor Umno treasurer, citing differences with the state chapter's leadership.