Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has denied any PKR boycott of Pakatan Harapan cabinet discussions yesterday.

Describing the negotiation process as ongoing, he said PKR wanted its jailed de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to be part of the discussions.

“It is very unfortunate that Anwar was not able to join the meeting that took place yesterday.

“So it is not a question of us boycotting, no, but we wanted Anwar, as the de facto leader, to be able to give his views as well,” Azmin said at a press conference held after Harapan victory celebrations in Gombak.

That is why, he said, PKR was pleased that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made the effort to visit Anwar at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital to engage him in the discussions.

The discussions will continue today, he said, with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin going to the Cheras hospital later this afternoon.

He insisted that the cabinet discussions need to be “inclusive.”

Azmin’s remarks came after PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli yesterday accused Mahathir of bulldozing three cabinet appointments – namely the finance, defence and the home affairs ministers – without consulting PKR.

Party sources have since said that PKR leaders were initially present at yesterday's meeting to discuss the cabinet line-up but left before it started.

However, Azmin said that PKR leaders were at the hospital as they wanted the cabinet talks to include Anwar.

“We tried to persuade the council to meet at the hospital but since they were there (at Yayasan Selangor), so they continued with the discussion.

“But later the prime minister came and explained to Anwar and the discussion continued in the hospital so it is a process we have to respect,” Azmin said.

Yet to be approved

When asked whether the three ministers already announced was a confirmed matter, Azmin remained coy.

“Well, the prime minister has announced these three cabinet ministers, and we expressed our views and certainly we want to continue the discussion in the spirit of Harapan.

“Insya Allah, as soon as possible, we will be able to come out with a full list of the cabinet,” he said.

When pressed further about the three names being confirmed, he said they were suggestions from the prime minister which have yet to be approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Asked a third time about this, he said, “We have our views, and in the end the prime minister will take note about the views given by PKR.”

He said the process of requiring approval from the Agong is similar to the process he went through in giving his proposed list of Selangor exco members to the state ruler earlier today.

The Selangor sultan approved his list of 10 exco members and as such, they will be sworn in tomorrow afternoon, he said, adding that there will be both familiar and new faces in the lineup, he said.

“I believe this team is a winning team, who are all qualified people,” said Azmin.