Bersatu’s newest recruit and former Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief executive officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan has urged civil society organisations to endorse Pakatan Harapan in the 14th general election (GE14).

Aiming the call at his “friends in civil society”, the academic hoped that groups would assess all GE14 manifestos and declare their support for who they agreed with the most.

“My request for friends in civil society is that when you see political parties making their offers... you need to decide whether these promises made are good enough for the nation or not.

“I think there will come a time to declare who is the nearest to the demands and requests you are making. Being non-partisan is very important part of being in the civil society movement but at the same time, being non-partisan does not mean you don’t endorse anyone.

“When that time comes, (I hope) you will give your endorsement to the party that comes closest to the vision of Malaysia you have. Otherwise, what will happen is you are implicitly endorsing (the other side),” he told a press conference at the Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

Wan Saiful specifically called for non-government organisations to endorse Harapan.

“Of course (endorse us if) we are closest to their mission.

“But that is for them to decide, we are open to being judged freely and fairly by everyone,” said the Bersatu policy and strategy bureau deputy chief.

Prior to his official entry into partisan politics last week, Wan Saiful headed independent think tank Ideas and was a prominent political commentator.

Harapan is slated to reveal its GE14 manifesto on Thursday and has hinted that the document will address political financing, institutional reform, asset declaration, cost of living, healthcare and unemployment.

Prime Minister and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak previously touted BN's GE14 manifesto as being the “best ever”, but has yet to reveal any details.

PAS has announced Kedah-specific promises while PSM as part of Gabungan Kiri Malaysia (Malaysian Leftist Coalition) has unveiled its “Manifesto for the 99 percent”.