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Saifuddin: Harapan is united, though on logo we're divided

Saifuddin: Harapan is united, though on logo we're divided
Saifuddin: Harapan is united, though on logo we're divided

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Pakatan Harapan's leadership has pledged to work together during the Johor elections despite the coalition deciding to use two different logos on the ballot slips.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Saifuddin Nasution said the proof of their unity was in common policy positions it has taken, including calls for campaigning rules for the Johor elections to be relaxed.

"People forget that PKR, DAP and the Amanah leaders when they were in PAS have a history of working together since 1999 in various forms - Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat and now Harapan.

"Although the names are different, the leadership of PKR, DAP and Amanah who are together now are the same people who have weathered all sorts of challenges together.

"I am confident that Harapan will continue to be 'compact' and the use of different logos will not hamper political cooperation," he said.

On Jan 26, the Harapan presidential council resolved that PKR candidates for the Johor elections will use PKR's logo on the ballot slips while DAP and Amanah candidates will use the Harapan logo.

According to PKR organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, his party was of the view that the Harapan logo carried "baggage" of its lacklustre two-year stint in government, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Both DAP and Amanah have, in a very diplomatic tone, suggested that this arrangement does not portray Harapan unity but accepted it nonetheless.

Despite veiled criticism from DAP and Amanah after Harapan's leadership made the decision, Saifuddin Nasution stressed that the outcome was through consensus.