PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's call for a dialogue with BN is being done in the open and not secretly, said PKR Youth in response to complaints by their PAS counterparts today.

"PKR Youth is of the stand that the call is an open one, not done secretly and made in the capacity (of a dialogue between) the government and the opposition," said PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin.

Earlier today PAS Youth vice chief Raja Ahmad Iskandar had issued a statement asking Anwar why he was suggesting a dialogue with BN now when in the past, the Islamic party had been criticised for the same.

Previously, there were rumours that there were covert talks involving certain groups within PAS and Umno on the possibility of having a unity government.

Shamsul said the proposal for a dialogue was a "positive move that need not be suspected".

As the coalition that clinched the majority vote in the last general election, discussing national issues with the ruling party is acceptable, he said.

On the eve of Merdeka Day, Anwar mooted for an open dialogue between the government and the opposition in order to address pertinent national issues, stressing that it was not an attempt to form a unity government.

Shamsul added that Anwar has the clout to call on all sides to discuss important and crucial issues faced by the country.

By conducting open dialogues with the government, it will prove that peaceful rallies are not the opposition's only solution to resolve issues, he said.

PAS Youth questions Anwar's dialogue with BN proposal