Following a much-anticipated meeting, the PKR political bureau issued a one-paragraph statement reaffirming the party’s commitment towards Pakatan Harapan.

“The PKR political bureau held its weekly meeting today and has decided that PKR remains committed towards efforts to strengthen Pakatan Harapan and strategise on how to defeat Umno-BN in the 14th general election,” the statement read.

The statement was signed by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and was read outside the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya by the party’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

When asked for details, however, Fahmi responded to most of the questions by repeating the statement. This includes a question on whether such commitment would exclude further talks with PAS.

He was coy when asked whether PAS was discussed in the meeting, to which he replied that many issues had been discussed.

Other PKR leaders including Wan Azizah declined to take questions from the media as they left the meeting venue. The meeting had taken nearly three hours starting at 3pm.

To another question on PKR deputy president Mohd Azmin Ali’s absence at today’s meeting, Fahmi said there are many other leaders absent as well, but the party remains in communication with its leaders.

When asked about PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s call for a special congress to decide whether the party should hold talks with PAS on possible cooperation, Fahmi said no decision had been made on the matter.

Yesterday, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council decided that the coalition would not cooperate with PAS in the 14th general election and would make preparations for three-cornered fights.

The decision was made amid a dispute within PKR, where some members favour cooperating with PAS in the coming general election, while others do not.

The dispute was brought into the public limelight when PKR political bureau member William Leong resigned from his post in protest of holding the talks with PAS and Kelantan PKR grassroots mutinied against their leaders who were deemed to be too friendly with PAS.

Two days ago, Rafizi - who is also against the talks - issued a 2,000-word statement arguing against it and also called for a special congress to put the matter to rest by vote. He also named PKR leaders who are for or against the negotiations.