PKR today stressed that it was not party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who accused PSM of refusing to accept Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which concerns bumiputera special privileges.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said today it was other participants at the roundtable meeting to form the new opposition coalition on Sept 22 that made the accusation against PSM.

"I would like to correct the perception that supposedly Wan Azizah said PSM was not invited (to form the new coalition) as there were disagreements on Article 153 of the federal constitution. This is untrue.

"During the discussion, there were those who asked why PSM was not invited to join the meeting.

"Among the answers given by the roundtable participants - but not by Wan Azizah - included that PSM never formally joined Pakatan Rakyat in the past and that there were differences relating to Article 153 when the (old) coalition was first formed," he said in a statement today.

Fahmi (photo) said these claims were only the views of the roundtable's participants and not the official stance of why PSM was not invited to join the new coalition.

He added that there was no ill intention and that participants were only being reminded of the context of the roundtable meeting.

"Unfortunately, it was misunderstood," he said.

PSM had expressed outrage after DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming and Amanah's Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said they were told during the round table meeting chaired by Wan Azizah that PSM was not invited due to its opposition to Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

A 'consistent friend'

Fahmi in his statement today did not reveal who was the participant who had made the claim to DAP and Amanah.

However, he said the consultation process was ongoing and that PKR still hopes to engage PSM and other parties in Sabah and Sarawak to form an inclusive coalition for the next general election.

Yesterday, PKR vice-president Tian Chua had also apologised for the 'negative portrayal' of PSM that arose from the roundtable meeting, calling the party a 'consistent friend'.