Rafizi denies PKR asked PAS to join coalition govt

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli yesterday denied the claim by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that PKR had asked the party to join the coalition government.

Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, said he had never heard of such an invitation despite being directly involved in the formation of the government after the 15th general election.

"I have never heard (about PAS being offered to join the coalition government). I am one of the three individuals in PKR who negotiated on the formation of the unity government, the other two were (PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim and (PKR secretary-general) Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"I don't know which year this was, but I can tell you that since the beginning of my involvement in the formation of the unity government, I know nothing about this (offer), unless there was someone else (who made it)," he told reporters in Iskandar Puteri.

Hadi had claimed on May 27 that certain people had repeatedly approached him to join the coalition government.

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi meanwhile said he had no knowledge of PAS' claim, either.

The deputy prime minister, who is also Umno president, said as far as he was concerned, no one would ever dream of making such an offer.

"This is beyond my knowledge. (However), I think it is best for them (PAS) to keep their friendship with Bersatu. So please, stop being so conceited," he said at a press conference in Bagan Datuk yesterday.