PKR is open to engaging with any opposition parties in the interest to build a strong and proactive Parliament, but the mandate of the people must always be respected, said party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“We will engage with the opposition, whoever they are.

“But the mandate of the people at the May 9 polls was clear, and should be respected,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

The Permatang Pauh member of Parliament was responding to reports that a faction within the Umno party is keen to form a unity government with PKR and DAP.  

The plan, allegedly driven by Barisan Nasional secretary-general and Umno MP Nazri Aziz, follows the exit of half of Umno’s Sabah leaders and members on Wednesday.

It also comes on the heels of a revelation that a top party leader is orchestrating a mass defection of the party’s MPs on the peninsula to Bersatu, a component of the Pakatan Harapan government.

Nurul said PKR would not condone any attempt at destabilising any political parties, even the opposition.

“The only way Malaysia can be governed effectively is through the emergence of a credible, professional, and robust opposition which is able to check the excesses of the executive,” she said.

“This is what I believe as someone who has been with Keadilan since 1999.”

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has also been rumoured to be attempting to forge an alliance with PKR and DAP, and to initiate talks with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in a bid to find a place for Umno in the government when the latter eventually succeeds Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

Six Umno MPs quit the party yesterday, which brings the party now down to 37 seats in Parliament out of the 54 it had won in GE14.

Nurul said that “principled thinking lawmakers” would not think about jumping ship in times of trouble.

“Politics post May 9 should be focused on policies and programmes to uplift the economic wellbeing of the people.

“Not on efforts initiated by certain parties to bolster political might and weaken our only chance at a credible opposition,” she said.

Former PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad concurred, saying that Umno MPs have a big part to play in the country’s development, and they should not be planning on defecting.

“I hope that many Umno leaders will continue to stay put to keep us in check.

“They have more democratic space, room in the media and resources than we did in the opposition,” he said.

Nurul also backed Umno’s Khairy Jamaluddin to lead the party, saying that the former Umno Youth chief could lead a “formidable opposition”.

“Umno’s survival is crucial. And I believe with Khairy leading the way as the opposition, we will unearth the best for the benefit of Malaysia,” she said. – December 15, 2018.