No doubts about PH alliance: Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sees no cause for scepticism over Pakatan Harapan's (PH) alliance after suggestions that there are attempts from within to thwart his path to become the country's eighth Prime Minister.
The PKR president-elect said the speculation that some 40 Umno MPs may jump ship to PH was a move to hinder his bid to premiership, were merely media interpretations of a supposed "repeat of 1998".
Anwar was referring to the events in 1998 that led to his sacking from the government and his subsequent imprisonment during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first stint as Prime Minister.
"These are only assumptions by the media, who believe that there are intrigues happening, similar to the conspiracy of 1998.
"I don't have any reasons to doubt PH's friendship agreement (perjanjian persahabatan)," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby, here, today.
Anwar said it was also pointless for other quarters to pit him and other PH leaders against Mahathir, who is the Prime Minister, as the latter had himself called for unity and trust within the coalition.
"He has made it clear that he wants total confidence among the leadership in the coalition, which is very reassuring to me.
"Because reforms would only be effective and meaningful if the entire leadership wants to battle corruption and if we have that sort of consensus in our leadership, that would be effective.
"But if they start sliding, this is of course our concern. Because then we will face problems," he said.
On PPBM supreme council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin's claim that up to 40 Umno members might join the party, Anwar said this, if true, should be allowed considering the democratic nature of the country.
He said this should however be subject to the approval from party leaders and that the MPs should serve as independents for a period of time first to gauge their performance.
"One of the considerations that should be taken into account is whether or not it is fair to the voters who voted PH and not Umno in the elections. But this is a democratic country.
"So I think there is this option (to jump ship). But I think it needs to be discussed ... whether we compromise on our principles and other issues," he said.