Unity gov't: A united 'no' from Pakatan

Malaysiakini news:

Pakatan Rakyat's top leadership today unanimously rejected the formation of a unity government with Umno or Barisan Nasional.

The PKR, DAP and PAS leaders reiterated their commitment to the opposition coalition with the aim of forming the federal government someday.

This was revealed in a joint statement inked by Opposition Leader and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP's Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

"The Pakatan council of leaders has reaffirmed its rejection of the idea of forming a unity government with Umno/BN which is clearly a malicious and desperate attempt to compromise the integrity of the increasingly popular Pakatan Rakyat," read the statement.

The statement was issued after its leaders held a one-hour 40 minute meeting to discuss the matter in one of the meeting rooms in the Parliament building.

This was followed by a six-minutes press conference to announce the decision.

Besides the three main leaders, others present at the meeting were PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, her deputy Syed Husin Ali, vice-presidents Azmin Ali and R Sivarasa.

Others include DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, DAP Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, vice-president Mahfuz Omar and central committee member and Bukit Gantang MP Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Discuss issues of national interest

Meanwhile, The Pakatan leaders said they were willing to discuss with BN on matters of national interests and had identified several areas.

These include economic recovery, improving the quality of education, restoring the integrity of the judiciary, abolishing the Internal Security Act and the handling of the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).

Other areas include the blatant abuse of power by the police, increasing crime rate, eradication of corruption, establishment of good governance and the holding of an immediate free and fair election to resolve the Perak crisis.

PAS president Abdul Hadi also assured that differences between party spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa "will be resolved tonight."

PAS will hold its central committee meeting tonight where this matter, including the unity talks with Umno, are expected to be the main agenda.

Previously, Nik Aziz told Nasharuddin to quit PAS and join Umno in relation to the latter’s support for holding unity talks with Umno.