It's time to move on from PAS, Saifuddin tells PKR

PETALING JAYA: It is time for PKR to forget mending its rocky ties with PAS and see the Islamist party as an enemy in the next general election.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his party had, for two years, tried to approach PAS through various means.
He added such efforts by the party were made despite an earlier decision by PAS to sever its ties with PKR.
"My stand is that there must be a timeline for any efforts that are being made to ensure certainty and ease for all parties," he said.
"It is more important for PKR to focus all of its efforts and energy to help in strengthening Pakatan Harapan and accept the fact that PAS has made its own choice," he said in a statement.
PKR was being split into two factions following a proposal for the party to negotiate with PAS in facing the 14th General Election.
While the idea was generally panned by members of Pakatan Harapan, incarcerated PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a letter appeared to endorse for the cooperation to take place.
Saifuddin said Anwar's letter was received just after Pakatan Harapan had come to a decision not to cooperate with PAS.
He added it would not be hard for Anwar to understand why the opposition coalition had come to such a decision.
"Having known him, Datuk Seri Anwar is a person that respects every decision that is made unanimously," Saifuddin said.
Saifuddin also dismissed rumours that he had resigned from the party due to dissatisfaction over Anwar's directive on PKR – PAS talks.
"It was clear that the rumours was a lie from parties that do not want to see stability in PKR and a stronger Pakatan Harapan," he added.