In a Sinar Harian interview, the PKR president confirmed such a meeting took place but said it was only to discuss a proposal mooted by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, not PH.

“I had a meeting with DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu last Wednesday to discuss this further and no one in PH welcomes Muhyiddin’s proposal.

“There should not be any impression that PH had agreed to work with PN in facing GE15,” said Anwar.

He said PH – which comprises PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko – was currently focused on strengthening the coalition and each party’s machinery, and that Muhyiddin’s proposal will not affect its plans.

Anwar added that Muhyiddin had implicitly expressed his intention to be prime minister again when they held informal discussions on the possibility of PH and PN working together.

However, Anwar said he had told the Bersatu president that he did not agree at all with the idea.

“Anyone can be the next prime minister, but I did not entertain Muhyiddin’s request because PH already decided to reject any cooperation with PN for now,” he said.

‘Low’ PKR polls turnout higher than in 2018

Meanwhile, Anwar dismissed the notion that the 12.26% voter turnout during the recent PKR national elections was low, pointing out that this was actually an improvement compared with the 2018 party polls.

“In 2018, the turnout was only 10% and this year it was 12% which represents about 100,000 members. Tell me, what other party has these many individuals going out to vote (in a party election)?

“PKR’s opponents have always been cynical about the party,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

Earlier this week, it was reported that only about 137,127 of the party’s 1.1 million members had come out to vote physically or online for the PKR elections.

This does not include the eight divisions where fresh elections have been called after there were said to be technical glitches affecting the voting process.