The PKR vice-president said the information relayed to Anwar had been limited because his lawyers were in support of the party’s efforts to negotiate with PAS to avoid three-cornered fights during the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).
He said Anwar frequently received information through lawyers Sivarasa Rasiah, Latheefa Koya and N Surendran, who are all PKR members.
“The three of them are supporters of the proposal to cooperate with PAS to prevent three-cornered contests,” Rafizi said in a statement today.
Anwar yesterday said he had assented to the party holding talks with PAS for cooperation between the two in the election.
He said although PKR was negotiating with PAS, it was still committed to the cooperation within Pakatan Harapan (PH), which also comprises PPBM, DAP and Amanah.
Anwar said PKR’s policy was not to be antagonistic towards PAS.
“It was proposed and agreed to by the political bureau before this that the party does not have enmity with PAS and will study the possibility of avoiding three-cornered fights,” he said.
At its meeting on Aug 28, the PH presidential council decided that the coalition would not cooperate with the Islamist party but would concentrate on preparing a strategy to manage the expected three-cornered battles.
The meeting was also attended by Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is president of both PH and PKR.
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said on Aug 31 that the party respected the council’s decision and would comply with it.
Rafizi, who is Pandan MP, said because Anwar was only getting restricted details, the party’s final decision on the matter should only be made after discussions are held and a conclusion is made by leaders of PKR and PH.
He said championing issues affecting the people was a better strategy to win the votes of PAS supporters, instead of holding talks with PAS leaders which he said would only lead to a “dead end”.
In May, PAS decided to terminate its ties with PKR, which had lasted for two decades.
It accused the party of breaching the conditions of their “tahaluf siyasi” (political cooperation) by campaigning against PAS candidates in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-elections in June last year.
Anwar was jailed for five years after being convicted of sodomy in February 2015.