PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is someone who respects collective decisions, according to party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He was responding to Anwar's letter from prison which appeared to endorse the efforts to continue engaging PAS to reach an electoral pact.

The letter came just four days after Pakatan Harapan's presidential council decided to pull the plug on negotiations with PAS and to focus on facing three-cornered fights.

"As someone who knows him (Anwar) well, Anwar respects decisions made on a collective basis.

"It would not be difficult for him to understand the reasons for Harapan's decision (to cease talks with PAS)," said Saifuddin in a media statement this afternoon.

Saifuddin, who returned from a six-day trip to London yesterday, said he released this media statement after speaking to PKR president and Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was accompanying her husband in court.

Yesterday, Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that Anwar's letter had caused problems, but said that he hopes to put an end to talks with PAS.

It's been almost two years

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said PKR had attempted to approach PAS for almost two years, during which time meetings were held with numerous leaders from PAS. This continued even after the Islamist party decided to sever ties with PKR.

"My stand is that all efforts must have a timeline so there is something definite and this would make it convenient for all parties...

"The people can clearly see the efforts (taken) and also how PAS has given PKR and Harapan the cold shoulder while growing closer to Umno and BN.

"Based on this, Harapan decided to strengthen the cooperation within the coalition to face the election and to no longer cooperate with PAS," he added.

Saifuddin also reiterated his commitment to PKR and Harapan in response to the rumour that he had resigned from his position.

Talk was rife that Saifuddin had quit due to dissatisfaction with Anwar regarding the negotiation with PAS.

"Even when I was abroad, I kept in touch with the top leaders of PKR and Harapan. The top leaders in PKR and Harapan know of my commitment to the party and coalition," he added.