Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has downplayed DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang's worry over Pakatan Rakyat's future before the next general election.

The Permatang Pauh MP said Lim had expressed his concern because of the delay of the Pakatan leadership council in holding a meeting.

"I have informed this to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang so that a date can be set for us to meet, hopefully in January, in order for us to continue with Pakatan's agenda," Anwar told a press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this afternoon.

Further allaying fears about Pakatan's future, Anwar said Lim had to "shock" a little so that the Pakatan leadership is refreshed ( lebih segar ).

Anwar even took the opportunity to joke, questioning Barisan Nasional's council meeting.

"How long has it been since they last met? They only meet once a year, but you don't get angry over that," he said.

Lim, on Monday, had admitted that all was not well in the coalition, which had not met in almost half a year.

"If you ask me whether I can categorically say that the tripartite Pakatan will be around to fight the 14th general election, I cannot answer you as I do not know," he had said.

Meanwhile, when asked whether the delay to hold the Pakatan leadership council was due to Abdul Hadi's refusal to attend, Anwar said it was not so, as he had met the Pas president in Parliament twice.

"He (Abdul Hadi) told me that he has been spending most of his time overseas in the last two months," said Anwar.

The PKR de facto leader also stressed that meetings for other programmes at the coalition's secretariat level had continued.

"The Pakatan Rakyat budget was passed by all three parties, if it was not passed, I could not have presented the budget," he quipped.

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