PKR leader William Leong will not retract his resignation from the party’s political bureau despite Pakatan Harapan’s decision to reject electoral cooperation with PAS.

“My decision remains, I will not withdraw it,” the Selayang MP told The Malaysian Insight. He remains a member of the party’s Supreme Leadership council.

Leong quit the bureau last week to protest the PKR leadership’s pursuit of PAS to avoid three-cornered fights in the coming elections.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali had previously said they would keep talks open with the Islamist party.

However, the PH presidential council early yesterday morning decided that the pact, which comprises Bersatu, PKR, DAP and Amanah, will not work with PAS, which had also been courting ruling party Umno.

The PKR political bureau yesterday reaffirmed this decision.

“The political bureau has also discussed this and issued a statement. All members and leaders will not wait for the party’s direction after this announcement,” Leong said.

Besides Leong, vice-president Rafizi Ramli had also opposed PKR’s attempts to work with PAS and had called for a special congress to decide on the matter. – August 30, 2017.