Dr M: Pribumi will join Pakatan

SHAH ALAM: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) will formally join Pakatan Harapan once some issues have been ironed out.

Both the party’s chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stated this in their speeches at the Pakatan convention here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said, one of the issues that needed to be sorted out was PAS’ inclusion in the Opposition front.

He said it was crucial to include PAS in the Opposition pact as the Islamist party could ‘sabotage’ Pakatan’s victory in the next general election.

“If PAS does not join the Opposition, there will be three-cornered fights in at least 40 constituencies,” said Dr Mahathir adding that this would kill off the Opposition.

Muhyiddin concurred and added he was often asked if the Opposition parties could combine forces and form a matured entity to collectively topple Barisan Nasional.

“I am certain we can and maybe the question was asked because of differences resulting in Opposition parties contesting against each other,” he said.

He said it was important for all Opposition parties to arrive at an agreement for straight fights in the general election.

“We must also come out with a formula for seat distribution,” said Muhyiddin.

He said PPBM wanted to work together with other Opposition parties because it could not survive or win the polls on its own.

“The same goes for the other Opposition parties, if we don’t reach a consensus and contest against each other,” added Muhyiddin.

In a related development, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali told journalists at the sidelines of the convention that negotiations with PAS must continue.

“I have been doing that. It is not an easy task but it is the right thing to do in the interest of the nation,” said Azmin.

To a question if PAS would agree to straight fights for seats, Azmin said based on statements made by the party’s new spiritual leader Hashim Jasin, he was positive the PAS leader understood the issue and the need to have one-on-one fights.

Hashim has been reported as saying PAS agreed to one-on-one fights for the upcoming 14th general election.