PAS members Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jafaar and former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhd Taib have now joined PKR.

"As the party that got the second highest number of (popular) votes in the last general election, PKR celebrates and opens its doors to whomever who is committed to the agenda of reform and to save Malaysia.

"We welcome and are delighted with the participation of Kamaruddin and Muhammad Taib into PKR's family," PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told a press conference today.

In May, Muhammad said he was contemplating leaving PAS as the party no longer cared about its non-Muslim support base.

Kamaruddin and Muhammad's entry into PKR comes as a surprise as most disgruntled PAS members are in the midst of forming their own party - Parti Amanah Rakyat.

However, Amanah appears not to have any qualms with the duo joining PKR as the upcoming party representative Khalid Abdul Samad was also present at the press conference.

Both Kamaruddin and Muhammad said their entry into PKR is to strengthen the planned new opposition coalition which would include Amanah.

"I thank my colleagues (in Amanah) as they understand the need to strengthen the new coalition by strengthening all the parties in the coalition as I am doing now," said Kamaruddin.

He added that despite his entry into PKR, he is also committed to seeing Amanah gain support.

This was echoed by Muhammad, who said he stood with Amanah even though he was joining PKR.

"I say when I join (PKR) I want to strengthen PKR, to strengthen Amanah and to strengthen the alternative coalition that woulf be set up," he said.

Meanwhile, Khalid, who is also Shah Alam MP, said he gave his blessings to the duo's entry into PKR.

He added that the duo can contribute to the PKR-led Selangor government.

More news

Al Jazeera journo deported over Altantuya murder story

'PM does not know Altantuya', PMO repeats to Al Jazeera

MP: Vote down Budget if speaker disallows no-confidence motion

Kit Siang: Red shirts rally for pro-Najib Malays

Gov't to amended directive to prevent leak of secrets

PKR bitten many times, but still not shy

PAS in Pakatan 2.0 - back to square one

Pua: Why 1MDB more interested to have me removed?

Malacca Umno denies mobilising members for ‘red shirt’ rally

Expect two new coalitions, PKR-PAS and DAP-Amanah

Sea of difference between PM’s donation and Bersih’s

PM, did Maria put RM2m in her bank account?