PAKATAN Harapan parties should focus on implementing election promises instead of bolstering their numbers by accepting defecting Umno leaders, said Federal Territory PKR chief Zahir Hassan.

Without naming any PH party, the newly appointed Zahir said it was not necessary to entice leaders who were rejected by the people or those who had track records.

“The mandate that the people have given us during the general election is clear and sufficient for us to fulfil our election promises.

“And we must work hard to deliver these promises to keep their trust,” he said in a statement today.

PH leaders should not use the excuse of needing these defectors to gain two-thirds majority in Parliament to make constitutional amendments to fulfil the promised reforms, he said.

“If we look at it, we can implement all our promises without needing a two-thirds majority in Parliament,” said Zahir.

He went on to question if there was an urgent need to gain the two-thirds majority and if the PH was ready with its proposed reforms.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad previously said reforms could take longer to implement without a supermajority in the Dewan Rakyat.

His party Bersatu is also said to be welcoming Umno defectors.

Umno has been rocked by the defection of 17 MPs. While three of them have already joined Bersatu, the rest have become Independents who back Dr Mahathir as the prime minister.

Most of the former Barisan Nasional MPs are expected to join Bersatu at a later date, prompting fears among PKR leaders that it is a plan by Dr Mahathir to bolster his and his party’s strength so that he can remain the prime minister. – December 17, 2018.