PKR deputy president Azmin Ali appealed for more time to discuss seat allocations between PAS and Pakatan Harapan to ensure straight fights in the coming general election.

Azmin said seats negotiations cannot be resolved in one week and was an on-going process as the date for the next election has not been finalised.

He reiterated that PKR will continue its policy to work with PAS during the elections, which must be held by July 2018.

"We cannot just negotiate within the Pakatan Harapan framework alone. We have new parties in the equation now, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

"I never said it would be an easy process but we must have the courage, leadership and humility to accept each other's differences and continue to talk to one another and listen to others," he said at the launch of Keadilan Square and Permatang Pauh PKR operation center today.

He reminded the parties not to dictate to one another over seats allocation as that would no longer make them "democrats".

"We must ensure the policy on straight fights as it is the only way to victory," he stressed.

Act 355 a sore point

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has rejected the possibility of working with Bersatu as the party is an ally of DAP.

However, PAS is a member of the state government in Selangor which comprise of Amanah, DAP, PKR and PAS.

PAS is slated to decide during its annual delegates meeting in April on whether they will continue having ties with PKR.

On the level of progress achieved through negotiations between opposition parties, Azmin declined comment.

He said there are some differences between the parties which must be ironed out but they were united in their common agendas such as reform and the fight against corruption.

A major sore point is the proposed amendments to the Syariah Law (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

When asked how many seats PKR would cede to Amanah and Bersatu, Azmin declined to provide a figure, instead stressing that discussions were ongoing and the "winnability" factor was the main consideration.

"What is most important now is to show the rakyat we are united. Revealing too much now may cause misunderstanding among the voters and make us lose more seats than we won last time," he said.