Azmin: PKR respects Pakatan’s decision

We’ll move on and focus on the general election machinery, says MB

SHAH ALAM: PKR respects the Pakatan Harapan presidential council’s decision to cease cooperation with PAS in the next general election, says Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

“We respect the council’s decision and will move on. Our focus now is on the election machinery for the general election following the Pakatan presidential council’s decision,” the PKR deputy president said when met after the Selangorlevel celebration and countdown to usher in the 60th National Day at Dataran Kemerdekaan here on Wednesday night.

On Monday, the Opposition coalition issued a statement that it would be breaking ties with PAS.

Then on Tuesday, PKR’s political bureau held a three-hour meeting and party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced in a statement later that PKR was committed to strengthening Pakatan and defeating Umno and Barisan Nasional in GE14.

Azmin was a no-show at both meetings although he is the Pakatan vice-president and election director.

“I had other matters to attend to. What’s important is that we accept this decision and go on with the execution. We will not cooperate with PAS in GE14 and we will strategise for the possibility of three-cornered fights,” he said.

Azmin, who had on many occasions showed his willingness to work with PAS, said that the decision had to be made because “GE14 is getting too close”.

“It was not up to me alone and that was PKR’s stance before this. Now, the Pakatan council is of the view that the general election is fast approaching and our election machinery must be ready,” he added.