PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional is aiming to build an alliance of non-government-aligned parties that strives to adopt a unified stance on issues affecting the people and nation, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
As part of this effort, the Perikatan chairman said he met with top leaders of 11 parties on July 18 to discuss and gain feedback for this initiative.
“The establishment of this cross-party alliance 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,” Muhyiddin said in a Facebook post.
Among those present were Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau, Malaysian Indian People’s Party president Punithan Paramsiven, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
Other attendees were Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, People’s Progressive Party youth chief Sathiah Sudakaran, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) president Zamani Ibrahim, United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) president Dr. P. Ramasamy and Malaysian Advancement Party president P. Waytha Moorthy.
PAS was not present at the meeting but its top leaders, including deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad, said they were aware of the event.
When contacted, Idris said the PAS leaders could not attend the meeting because party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and other leaders were still in Kedah on Friday.
“We are in the know (about the meeting), but we were all still in Kedah after the Himpunan Mandat Negarawan rally on Thursday night,” said Idris.
Tuan Ibrahim said Muhyiddin is expected to brief Perikatan on what transpired during the meeting.
“There is no difference in opinion between us and Bersatu. Muhyiddin is the Perikatan chairman, and he will present what transpired during the meeting with the non-government bloc for all of us in Perikatan to decide on.
“Although the meeting was not discussed earlier in the Perikatan meeting, we know that the topic will be raised in the next meeting,” Tuan Ibrahim said when contacted.
In a statement the day after the meeting, Arutchelvam of PSM said that the party has decided not to join Perikatan or any new alliance.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin presented several proposals, including a cross-party understanding among opposition parties.
“PSM welcomed the discussions and shared our views and position,” said Arutchelvam.
He added that PSM is currently pacting only with Muda and Parti Rakyat Malaysia.
