Fissures appear to be widening in PKR over the move to continue courting PAS despite the latter severing political ties with its former partner.

PKR lawmaker William Leong announced that he has quit the party's political bureau in protest due to this.

"I can't (defend this position of wanting to work with PAS).

"When I can't lead in this direction, I can't follow in this direction, then I have to step aside," he told Malaysiakini.

The Selayang MP also revealed he would not to contest the next general election and has conveyed this decision to the party leadership.

However, Leong said he would remain a PKR member as well as a member of the party's leadership council.

PKR's political bureau is the executive body of the party which meets once a week. It is chaired by the party president and comprises appointed members, usually senior party leaders.

Leong is also a member of the party's central leadership council (MPP), which mostly comprises of those elected by party members. The MPP usually meets once a month and sets general policy guidelines for the political bureau.

According to Leong, the political bureau is in charge of day-to-day affairs.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution confirmed receiving Leong's resignation letter, but declined to comment on the reasons behind it.

"Our priority now is to talk to William and hear what he has to say," Saifuddin said.

PKR's political bureau has been talking about its relationship with PAS ever since the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat in 2015.

Malaysiakini understands that last week, the bureau decided to give PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali a chance to talk to PAS.

Azmin has already been engaging PAS in informal talks.

Leong however said the decision to continue talks with PAS was not unanimous, and that there were others who disagreed with this.

With elections around the corner, he said, the party should instead be preparing to face PAS in three-cornered fights.

PAS is expected to be a spoiler in the next general elections and there are fears that, given how the first-past-the-post electoral system works, they will split the opposition vote, and help BN stay in power.

So far, PAS has not indicated any willingness to work with PKR after the Islamist party officially severed ties with the latter in May.

Harapan leaders speaking to Malaysiakini, including those from PKR, have expressed scepticism that Azmin would succeed in striking a deal with the party.