Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali may have tried to appear nice to PAS in public, but the PKR deputy president has had his fair share of challenges from the Islamist party.

Speaking in an interview with Oriental Daily today, Azmin lamented how tough it was to negotiate with PAS, but stressed that he could not abandon a coalition that was built since the reformasi era.

“I can accept differences in opinion, but it should not destroy a coalition that we have been building since 1998.

"It wasn’t easy to build this coalition; to have DAP and PAS sitting on the same table is unprecedented," he said.

Azmin admitted there were difficulties when communicating with PAS' top leadership, adding that leaders must have humility, wisdom and respect for other political parties.

He lamented that PAS no longer seemed keen in coalition politics, which helped build up the opposition in the past.

“I’m disappointed to see PAS’ top leaders forget the most basic principles of a coalition. This is dangerous.

"We must respect each other, and not only protect our own ideals and (ideological) positions," Azmin was quoted as saying in the interview.

He was heavily criticised previously for insisting on maintaining his relationship with PAS despite being snubbed by the party.

Azmin had tried to negotiate with PAS to give up the Sungai Besar by-election, with the promise that the party would be allowed a free hand in the Kuala Kangsar by-election.

However, the negotiations fell apart, causing multi-cornered fights in both constituencies involving BN, PAS and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

The coalition between PKR, PAS and DAP under Pakatan Rakyat led to the opposition's strongest showing in the 2008 and 2013 general election.

However, internal disagreements led to the disintegration of the coalition.

It was later reconstituted as Pakatan Harapan comprising PKR, DAP and PAS splinter Amanah.

PAS had said it will not work with Amanah or DAP but PKR remains hopeful that a compromise can be achieved before the 14th general election.