Opposition parties should furnish policies instead of obsessing over political positions, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said this would allow the people to evaluate whether the opposition parties have common ground, and whether its policies are better than BN’s.

Of late, he said, all the statements from the opposition are of political nature dealing with whom should be prime minister, deputy prime minister, and so on.

"But now what Malaysians need are policy statements.

"What is going to be their economic policy? What is their policy on research? What is their foreign policy? What is their policy on education and so on that differentiates them from BN?

"The statements coming out of (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairperson) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin are all about positions. What Malaysian want is certainty: Which political party have policies that give them confidence and can improve their lot.

"That's why I say BN has experience. Almost every day we issue statements based on administrative policies. Even today, we don't know what are the common policies of Pakatan Rakyat, Pakatan Harapan, or whatever they call themselves," he added.

Abdul Rahman was speaking to reporters after delivering his speech at the launch of the December 2016 edition of the World Bank's Malaysia Economic Monitor report in Kuala Lumpur.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar had confirmed last week Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu would meet soon to decide on their candidate for prime minister.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had said that Pakatan's decision to maintain the jailed former opposition leader as prime minister-designate has not changed, but the coalition may need to choose an interim prime minister.

He backed Amanah president Mohamad Sabu's suggestion that PKR president and Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should assume that role.

Pakatan and Bersatu had just formalised their electoral pact on Dec 13.