Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub has ruled out any need for a merger with PKR.

He was responding to his PKR counterpart Mohd Azmin Ali, who said that he is willing to consider the proposal.

Salahuddin, who expressed a “million thanks” to Azmin for his view, said Amanah, which is a PAS splinter, was formed to continue the Islamic struggle via an inclusive and progressive approach.

Furthermore, he argued, with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) now having inked an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, it has made the role of Amanah on the efforts to defeat BN in the general election more prominent.

“Therefore, I, representing the leaders and members of Amanah, feel that the issue of a merger does not arise at all.

“Once again, I express my gratitude (to PKR) and hope that our relationship remains strong,” Salahuddin added in a media statement.

Amanah was formed following the dismantling of the previous opposition bloc Pakatan Rakyat, after DAP and PAS parted on a bitter note over the latter's theocratic goals.

'Little rationale for merger'

Separately, Amanah adviser Ahmad Awang told Malaysiakini that while he is not aware of the proposal, on the surface, there appears to be little rationale for the idea.

“I would like to ask what is the rationale behind the idea? Is it because PKR now feels that, after 20 years, it has reached its ceiling? It could no longer grow and as such needs to merge with Amanah?

“If that is the intention, then maybe there is no need (to merge) because PKR is a party for all races, while Amanah is a party based on Islam and the word Islam is stated in our constitution,” Ahmad (photo) said when met at a solidarity gathering for activist Safwan Anang last night.

Commenting further, Ahmad pointed out that the proposed merger may trigger problems for PKR members, based on its differences with Amanah.

“So it is best to continue with what we already have today… So long as we are on the same path to take down the BN,” he said in reference to the cooperation of parties in Pakatan Harapan.

“In conclusion, I have yet to see a rationale that could have led to the idea.

The merger proposal was first revealed by PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin last week.

Afif said the idea has been mooted in PKR's internal meetings and many were willing to explore the possibility.

"It is a potentially good idea as Amanah's approaches and views are compatible with PKR, and both are multiracial and multicultural.

"PKR and Amanah have many good leaders and both parties can work to strengthen not only their respective parties but the opposition block as a whole, especially in view of the coming 14th national polls," Afif had said.