Reaching a decision in the face of opposing views had become difficult since de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's imprisonment, according to PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

The Pandan lawmaker mentioned this in a blog post this afternoon to explain the reason for his protracted absence from PKR political bureau meetings.

Rafizi said even when a decision is made, when someone disagreed with it, the decision is not respected and is raised again at the next bureau meeting as in the case of Kelantan PKR leaders holding positions in the PAS-led state government.

“Because of this, the bureau became a place for marathon political polemics which do not create an impactful movement on the ground,” he added.

According to Rafizi, the situation worsened in light of more sensitive issues such as the cooperation with PAS as it involved the Selangor government.

He claimed that since PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was of the opinion that the door should remain open to PAS until the eleventh hour to ensure victory in Selangor, steps disliked by PAS were rejected.

Azmin is also Selangor menteri besar.

Rafizi said the decision to form Pakatan Harapan, where he had served as its backbone as secretary-general at the time, widened the fissures between Azmin and him.

“The incidents during the Sarawak state election as well as the by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai resulted from the view of linking any initiative involving Harapan to the prospect of me benefitting politically from it, and therefore should not be supported.

“Realising this, after the defeat in the Sarawak state election and by-elections, I knew that my time and energy would be better spent campaigning on the ground rather than engaging in never-ending battles during political bureau meetings,” he added.

Rafizi said while he did not attend the political bureau meetings, this, however, did not mean that he was in the dark about the developments in the party as he meets with the president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and election director Nurul Izzah Anwar on a regular basis.

With regard to PKR's cooperation with PAS, the Pandan lawmaker expressed scepticism if the political bureau or central committee could reach a decision that pleases both sides of the debate.

“In these final moments before the GE14, I don't see how the political bureau or the central committee can reach a decision that pleases both sides on the issue of cooperation with PAS.

“That is why I said that the best way is to give it back to the grassroots through a special congress,” he added.

Yesterday, the Harapan presidential council decided to immediately end all political cooperation with PAS.