Working with Umno is ‘worst-case’ scenario, says Anwar

IPOH: Pakatan Harapan should go into the 15th General Election to win comfortably, says PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Noting that DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke's statement that the party was open to working with Umno, Anwar said this was based on the "worst-case" scenario.

"The election is a major battle in the country, either to save Malaysia or to allow the rot to continue, to condone and tolerate excessive corruption and for these (corrupt) people to go scot-free while allowing corruption to continue.

"The situation is precarious and I don't think the country can afford to slide further.

"Our appeal is to all Malaysians to save the country from corruption and abuse of power and to propel the economy.

"Issue of negotiation post-election, to me, does not arise," he said at a press conference here.

Anwar also said he was open to the idea of contesting in Perak during GE15.

The Port Dickson MP said he would consider it after being questioned by reporters.

"If you say (I) can (contest in Perak), then I will consider it.

"It is a suggestion that I will consider but nothing is final," he said.

"Friends in Port Dickson are also appealing for me to stay there," he added.

When asked further whether he would consider standing in Tambun, whose incumbent MP is Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Anwar said it was among the constituencies that had been suggested to him.

"For now, we are preparing the election machinery and also to identify how many seats we can contest in," he said.

"We will discuss the basic things at state level before bringing these up at the next (Pakatan Harapan) presidential council," he added.

During the press conference, Anwar also announced that party vice-president and Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang is the new state party chairman.

He said Chang's appointment was in line with the party's focus to prepare for the general election.

"All the party's deputy and vice-presidents will assist states in preparing for the general election," he said.