KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional has accepted two new parties into its coalition ahead of the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections.
Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, better known as Dr Sam, said the coalition had agreed to admit Parti Cinta Malaysia (also known as Wawasan) and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) during a two-hour emergency meeting on Monday (June 22) night.
Dr Sam, who is also a PAS vice-president, said the agenda of the meeting held from 9.30pm to 11.30pm at the PAS headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut here was focused on two issues - namely the admission of the two parties into the coalition and preparations for the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections.
He said discussions on seat allocations and candidates for both state elections would be held at another meeting on Tuesday (June 23).
"Hopefully everything can be settled on Tuesday before nomination day for the Johor state election on Saturday," he said.
Asked whether Bersatu's status within the coalition was discussed, Dr Sam said the matter was not raised.
He also described the meeting, also attended by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as smooth and harmonious.
"Every representative was given the opportunity to express their views and raise pertinent matters.
"As in every discussion, there were agreements and differences of opinion but everything was handled amicably," he said.
Among others present were Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai and Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) president P. Punithan.
About 50 Perikatan supporters had gathered outside the PAS headquarters while the meeting was in progress.
