BOTH Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional parties received training from the International Republican Institute (IRI), PKR lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar has said. 

The party vice-president, however, didn’t reveal what kind of training programmes they underwent. 

“They have been training Gerakan as well. I think all our activities have been done in a very transparent manner. The previous government knows, the previous government is very aware. 

“And they have helped not just Pakatan Harapan but BN as well,” she said at Parliament today. 

Nurul Izzah, however, said the government was well aware that the training was done in accordance with the law. 

“They trained Gerakan, a party in Barisan Nasional. Everything was done publicly,” she said.

It was reported earlier today that IRI president Daniel Twinning said the Washington-based outfit’s efforts in Malaysia had finally paid off in the 14th general election.

He said a Pakatan victory would work in Washington’s favour.

Nurul Izzah, however, denied that IRI had helped the former opposition coalition topple the previous Barisan Nasional government. 

“It was very clear-cut, that by toppling through democratic means, we have to participate in elections,” she said. 

Several PH leaders also today denied working with the US-based Republican think-tank to overthrow the previous BN government. – August 6, 2018.