For Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat still "exists" in the state government.

"In the state government context, Pakatan Rakyat still exists because that is the mandate given by the rakyat. As Menteri Besar of Selangor, I have to carry that mandate," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

He had earlier denied that he was delaying efforts to form a state-level Pakatan Harapan coalition, pointing out that it was already there.

"In the context of politics, of course, we have developed Pakatan Harapan."

He, however, stressed that the priority now was to ensure that they reached both state and national consensus to prepare for the general election as opposed to focusing on the structure of Harapan.

"Even at the national level, we have not resolved the structure. We don't know who the chairperson of Harapan is. Let the national structure resolved before it goes to the state level," he said.

Asked how two coalitions could co-exist in Selangor, Azmin replied with: "Why not?"

"We have been working very well for the last three years because that was the mandate by the rakyat. Who am I to dictate? I have to carry the mandate of the rakyat.

"The rakyat voted in PAS, DAP and PKR. That mandate was given for five years. (So) wait for the next election," he added.

News portal The Malaysian Insight had quoted Selangor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) leaders urging Azmin to stop efforts to woo PAS to form an electoral pact and to just focus on forming a state-level Harapan secretariat to face the next election.

Selangor Amanah chief Izham Hashim had claimed that despite DAP, Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) having agreed to set up the secretariat, this was being held back by PKR.

Despite DAP and PAS having severed ties with each other in July 2015, leading to the death of Pakatan Rakyat, PKR and PAS still maintained its relations. Harapan, comprising of DAP, Amanah and PKR was formed in September the same year.

Nevertheless, the PAS syura council finally decided to sever all political cooperation with PKR, following a motion that was approved during the PAS muktamar in May this year.

Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, however, stated that the three PAS executive council members in the Selangor state government will retain their positions until the next general election.