KUCHING, Nov 12 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said he and other PH leaders have not met with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders on the possibility of inviting the state coalition to form the federal government.
He said any talk with GPS leaders would only take place after the outcome of the November 19 general election had been announced.
"Right now, we want our representatives from Sarawak and Sabah to be strong in PH first because it will give space and opportunities to get the views of the grassroots and to have the same policy,” he told reporters after announcing the offers to the Sarawakian voters in return for their support of PH in the general election.
He said he will not shut down any negotiation with GPS, but it should be held after the general election.
Anwar said any participation from Sarawak and Sabah in the PH government would be more meaningful.
"So we need to work hard. Let our candidates win in Sarawak first, either from PH, PKR or Amanah. This is our priority,” he said.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who was present at the press conference, said it is true that PH is leading ahead of Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, in terms of support, according to opinion polls, in Peninsular Malaysia.
However, he said the seats that PH is projected to win in Peninsular Malaysia, are not enough for PH to form the federal government with a simple majority.
"That is why we need the support and the seats to be contributed by our candidates in Sarawak and Sabah to enable PH to have a simple majority of least 112 seats.
"That is why we come to appeal to the Sarawakian voters, especially in seats that we used to win before, to continue to give their support to PH,” Loke said.
He said this would enable the PH to form a strong government at the federal level on November 19.
He said if PH does not secure the simple majority, then there will be a hung parliament.
"This is something we try to avoid. We hope that our friends in Sarawak can help so that PH can form the federal government on the night of November 19 without any question asked with Anwar as the next prime minister,” Loke said.
