PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - With the demise of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will work out a new political cooperation with the Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, now serving a five-year jail term for sodomy, said through his lawyers that his PKR party would also work with non-governmental organisations such as Bersih, Abim and Ikram which are committed to reform and change.
"This collaboration is between those who are committed to reform and change and will give a truly democratic and fair choice to the people.
"Let us all set aside our differences and focus more on the struggle to save Malaysia," said Anwar adding that it was "high time for Malaysians to unite".
DAP had said that Pakatan had now ceased to exist after PAS approved a motion at its general assembly in June to sever ties with DAP.
PAS on the other hand insisted that the pact still exists while PKR had agreed that Pakatan could no longer function as before.
GHB was formed by PAS' progressive leaders who were ousted in the June party elections, and appeared to have received a warm welcome by DAP and PKR.
The group was led by former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and former PAS central committee members such as Khalid Samad, Dr Hatta Ramli and Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
GHB is expected to launch its own political party in mid September.
Meanwhile, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) component party Gerakan has in a pre-emptive move filed an objection with the Registry of Societies (RoS) to block the GHB from using the word "Gerakan" in its name, The Malaysian Insider reported.
The party's Secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said the move was made so as to prevent confusion among voters.
Gerakan was registered in 1968 as Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM), but has often been known as "Gerakan", The Malaysian Insider reported.
"People would always be reminded of 'PGRM' once they mention 'Gerakan', but now the PAS progressive faction is planning to register as a new party under 'GHB', which might confuse the public," he was quoted saying.
