Activist group Otai Reformis called for Pakatan Harapan to be strengthened by allowing Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) to field its candidates in both the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

Spokesperson Saiful Ariffin told reporters today that the matter was agreed upon by the group, in a meeting it held yesterday.

Submitting a memorandum to Amanah on the matter at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Saiful said the group believes that Amanah was not only a mere replacement to PAS, but was an even better replacement for the Islamist party, in the current opposition coalition.

“Amanah should be given the responsibility to contest in the two parliamentary seats to prove that it will be a dominant party for the Malays since the two seats are Malay-majority constituencies.

“We believe the responsibility should be given to competent Amanah leaders. We believe they have the principles to give an alternative to the rakyat through a strong opposition coalition,” he said.

Otai Reformis is a group of activists from the Reformasi era which first emerged to oppose the Red Shirts rally in September last year.

'Suggestions will be discussed'

Meanwhile, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, who received the memorandum, said the party was appreciative of Otai Reformis’ suggestions.

The suggestions, he said, will be discussed and presented to Pakatan Harapan as the coalition will ultimately decide on the candidates to be fielded.

“We will present the suggestions as well as our arguments to contest in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, under Pakatan Harapan's name,” he said.

The two by-elections have been set to run simultaneously, with nomination day on June 5, and polling day on June 18.

The seats became vacant after the demise of their incumbents, the plantation industries and commodities deputy minister Noriah Kasnon and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, in a helicopter crash on May 5 in Sarawak.