PSM was not invited to join the new opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan because of previous disagreements over a key principle in the coalition's Common Policy Framework, said DAP's Ong Kian Ming and Amanah's Khalid Samad.

"As far as we know, PSM did not agree to one of the main common points of agreement between the opposition parties (in Pakatan Rakyat)," Ong, who is also Serdang MP, said when contacted by Malaysiakini .

As the new coalition is still using the same Common Policy Framework and principles, it was assumed that PSM would not agree to joining the coalition again, he clarified.

This explanation was backed up by Khalid ( photo ), who said, using PSM's earlier disagreement with Pakatan Rakyat as their basis, it was decided that PSM would not join the new Pakatan Harapan.

"We are not starting from scratch, we are picking up where we left off when Pakatan Rakyat was put into disarray.

"We're not reinventing the wheel. It was then I assumed that PSM would not be interested because they would still have rejected the point of principle in the Common Policy Framework," the Shah Alam MP added.

'Better ask Wan Azizah'

The core point that PSM did not agree with was Article 153 of their Common Policy Framework, regarding the special rights of the bumiputera, he also revealed.

He explained that PSM were socialists, which is probably why they disagreed with the special rights of the bumiputera.

Though, both of them insisted, this was just what was explained to them at the opposition roundtable meeting yesterday, where they formed the new coalition Pakatan Harapan.

"That is just my understanding, I'm just repeating what was explained to me at the meeting," Ong said.

However, Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told Malaysiakini that yesterday's round table meeting was merely the first step in forming an "effective, cohesive and inclusive" opposition coalition.

She also said Pakatan Harapan was open to discussions with all parties, including PSM and parties from Sabah and Sarawak.

However, these parties would have to agree with their Common Policy Framework and more importantly, the constitution, including Article 153, she said.

Yesterday, after a roundtable meeting between PKR, DAP and Amanah, the formation of new coalition Pakatan Rakyat was announced .

PAS was also invited but it had snubbed the invitation.

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