Shuhaimi Shafie, the political secretary to the Selangor menteri besar, said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is well informed of current developments despite being in prison.

Shuhaimi said this in response to reformasi activist Hishamuddin Rais who today claimed Anwar may not be receiving accurate information due to being behind bars.

"Anwar has wide knowledge on what is happening. Prison walls is not a barrier to the information he is receiving.

"His statements are handwritten and certainly what is written carries clear meanings," Shuhaimi told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Hishamuddin in a statement today claimed that Anwar could not make proper decisions in prison as the information reaching him had "Ajinomoto" (a type of food seasoning) in them.

As such, he said Anwar should instead focus on producing a "magnum opus" (great work) while in prison.

Hishamuddin's statement came after Anwar, in a letter released last Saturday, urged PKR to keep the door open to PAS amid a split within PKR on whether electoral negotiations with the Islamist party should continue. 

Anwar noted concerns that the prolonged negotiations could impede Pakatan Harapan's electoral preparations but said this meant that PKR should all the more stand united and move swiftly.

Shuhaimi disputed claims that Anwar was not able to make proper decisions from prison.

"Are we trying to belittle Anwar's ability to grasp information and his intellectual capability?" he asked.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had also explained the predicament with regard to Anwar's insistence on keeping the door open to PAS.

Saifuddin said that Harapan parties, including PKR, have to conduct negotiations on electoral seats without factoring PAS.

He said PAS had set several conditions even before it was willing to negotiate with PKR, including for all PAS seats to be left alone and that PKR cannot campaign in Kelantan.

However, Shuhaimi said it was best for this matter to be discussed internally.

"Sometimes, good intentions can be misinterpreted. Therefore, it is best for matters concerning policy, strategy, as well as personal opinions, to be deliberated in party meetings behind closed doors," he said.