SHAH ALAM: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, held discussions with 11 party leaders from the non-government bloc on Friday (July 18).
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said that the purpose was to gather their views on the proposal to establish a cross-party coalition that will adopt a unified stance on matters affecting the interests of the people and the nation, reported Sinar Harian.
"The establishment of this cross-party coalition aims to strengthen the role of checks and balances for the opposition parties both within and outside Parliament.
"All attendees provided very positive feedback on this proposal.
"God willing, I will bring the views expressed during this meeting to the upcoming Perikatan Nasional supreme council meeting," he said in a Facebook post.
Among those present were the Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau, president of the Makkal Indian People Party (MIPP) Punithan Paramsiven; Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
Others included the deputy chairman of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), S Arutchelvan, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, Youth leader of the Malaysian People's Progressive Party (PPP), Sathiah Sudakaran, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) president Zamani Ibrahim; United Malaysian People's Rights (Urimai) president Dr P Ramasamy, and Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) president P Waytha Moorthy.
However, representatives from PAS were absent from the meeting, even though the party is a major component of Perikatan.
Previously, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said that the party had given Muhyiddin the mandate to lead efforts in forming an opposition front with parties outside the government bloc.
The meeting also took place after PAS recently reminded Bersatu to consult with parties within the Perikatan coalition before announcing any policies.
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin said on July 14 that among the significant policy issues not discussed with them beforehand was the choice of prime ministerial candidate from Perikatan.
He said that such decisions were sometimes announced by Muhyiddin without prior consultation with PAS.
