Discuss working with others closed doors, Loke tells PH leaders

SHAH ALAM - DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook says the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition should not be working other political parties including Perikatan Nasional (PN) until the issue is raised at the coalition’s presidential council.

This is to avoid confusing PH voters as most of whom are against working with parties like Bersatu and Pas.

He further said there will be no end to "this polemic: the coalition keeps issuing over joining forces with other parties.

"So my plea to PH leaders is that if you wish to discuss strategies or propose who we should work with, discuss it at the presidential council and come to a consensus," he was quoted in FMT.

He further described it as "difficult for PH to work with Bersatu and Pas" due to past relationships, referring to the conflict between Pas and DAP under Pakatan Rakyat.

PH would not be able to work with Bersatu due to the 2020 Sheraton Move, which saw the sudden collapse of PH coalition.

PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution has so far said the coalition “was open to negotiations with any political party to prepare for GE15”. Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub had urged PH leaders not to dismiss the negotiations with any parties, including Bersatu and Pas.

However, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, commonly known as Mat Sabu, had previously said that there was “no way” PH would work with “traitors”.

Sinar Daily also reported that Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that his party had no plans to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) under the "big tent" approach for the 15th general election (GE15).