Former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said it was essential for the leadership to reach a consensus on issues such as the “big tent” approach and on party renewal.

He said incoming deputy president Rafizi Ramli’s strong opposition to the “big tent” approach would not cause a rift within PKR but that some struggles were expected ahead.

“Although the party will face some difficulties in terms of the different approaches of Rafizi and party president Anwar Ibrahim, I believe they will combine well to strengthen the party heading into GE15,” he told FMT.

The “big tent” is a term used to describe the move to unite all opposition parties against Barisan Nasional for GE15.

Rafizi has repeatedly rejected the approach, saying the time had come for the party to “start from zero” to win the hearts of voters rather than reach out to other parties in its efforts to win back Putrajaya.

Abdul Razak Ismail of Otai Reformis, a group of PKR veterans loyal to Anwar, said the party grassroots were against the “big tent” as it could result in “weak” alliances.

He said the approach could risk a repeat of the Sheraton Move, which led to the fall of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government two years ago and resulted in Bersatu leaving the coalition.

The Sheraton Move had also seen a number of PKR members sacked from the party, including former deputy president Azmin Ali, leaving a leadership void.

However, Abdul Razak believed the void had been filled with the recent party elections, adding that PKR was now in a position to make major decisions on party matters.