Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today said that PAS' invitation for PKR to join its 'third force' is not an olive branch to the party.

Instead, the PKR president said PAS was reacting to a personal invitation from Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali for all opposition parties to close ranks.

"Is it an olive branch? I think it is a reaction to an invitation, not our (PKR) invitation, (it's) Selangor MB's (Azmin) invitation.

"I don't think it's an olive branch," she said during a press conference at PKR's headquarters after Pakatan Harapan's presidential council meeting.

Among leaders present at the press conference were PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP's political education director Liew Chin Tong

Wan Azizah was asked for comment on PAS vice-president Nik Mohamad Amar Nik Abdullah's reported invitation for PKR to work together with the party and its new ally, Parti Ikatan.

Following Pakatan Harapan's devastating loss in the recently concluded Sarawak election, Azmin had said that all opposition parties should close ranks against BN to face the next 14th general election.

On the two upcoming parliamentary by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, Wan Azizah said no final decision has been made on whether Pakatan Harapan will be fielding its candidates against BN.

"We must realise that there is no equal playing field between the government and opposition (in an election).

"In the context of a by-election, we will be made to face the full force of the government's machinery," she said.

Pressed further on Pakatan Harapan's potential candidates, she said the matter would first be discussed by each individual party.

At the same time, Wan Azizah also said there have been informal discussions between PKR and PAS on the matter as part of the Selangor state government.

"We can discuss...There is no problem. Discussions are ongoing.

"Sungai Besar is in Selangor. In the Selangor state government, there are excos from PAS, Keadilan and DAP," she said.

PAS had previously said it would only be willing to discuss with PKR on the two by-elections.

So far, both PAS and its splinter party Parti Amanah Negara have indicated their intentions to contest the two seats that fell vacant after its incumbents – the late Sungai Besar MP Noriah Kasnon and Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Khai-ril Anuar Wan Ahmad – died in the recent Sarawak helicopter tragedy.