PKR's response to Umno reaffirming support for PN irks DAP
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's remark that PKR respects Umno's reaffirmation of support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) but would continue its efforts to restore the people's mandate appears to have ruffled DAP's feathers.
According to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, the remark, which he described as unexpected, gave the impression that PKR is willing to work with Umno.
He said DAP had made it clear to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim that "cooperation with Umno is not on the table".
"We fought with Umno. During the Sabah election, in Kota Kinabalu, I said we will not work with Umno under its leaders Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Abdul Razak," he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview in Penang.
"We fought against them in the general election. We united because we wanted to remove a kleptocratic Umno-led BN government. How can we go back and work with them?" he asked.
Zahid's remark came a week after he chaired Umno's political bureau, which resolved to consider withdrawing support for PN and to discuss new terms for further cooperation with the government.
The announcement was made after Anwar's audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, where he claimed to have submitted documentation to prove that he has the majority support of lawmakers to form the government.
Meanwhile, Lim said when Anwar made the Sept 23 announcement that he had the numbers to topple Muhyiddin's government, DAP was made to understand that it would include some political parties and individual MPs, but not Umno.
"Ours and Pakatan Harapan's position is very clear. You have to ask PKR what is theirs," he added.
On Anwar not consulting his Harapan allies DAP and Amanah on this political move, Lim said the parties were told there is a need to keep the matter under wraps as it was sensitive.
However, he admitted that Anwar was asked if it was appropriate of him to make a premature announcement regarding the coup.
"Shouldn't it have been made by the proper authority instead of Anwar alone? We were afraid this would damage his credibility but he was very confident.
"He made the decision, which is why we were not there when he made the announcement. It's his personal decision," he added.
