PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar today sought to clear the air over persistent arguments on whether Pakatan Rakyat is still dead or alive, pointing out that it was a matter of semantics.

This amidst DAP insisting Pakatan is dead and PAS stressing otherwise, with Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who is also PKR deputy president, retorting: "Who said Pakatan is dead?" when asked by journalists.

"Formally or structurally, there is no Pakatan but we take the cue from PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim who said that Pakatan in spirit, substance, and essence is still working," Shamsul ( photo ) told journalists in Shah Alam today.

He pointed out that even though Pakatan was not functioning formally, all the former Pakatan partners were still working closely together in Parliament.

"Some people will question the semantics and all that, but the position in Parliament is a very clear example.

"So if that is the case, how can you say that Pakatan is no longer in operation […] to me, it is still operating," he said.

However, he acknowledged the ongoing disagreements such as DAP wanting to renegotiate the position of the Selangor government and Sarawak DAP issuing an ultimatum to PKR to cut ties with PAS.

These, he said, will be resolved as the party creates a "new narrative" in a nationwide roadshow that will be launched on July 22, ahead of a new opposition coalition.

However, he was coy about details about the new coalition alluded to by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in a message from Sungai Buloh prison, stating that more details will be available after Hari Raya.