PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan may be ready to work with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, which was instrumental in causing the collapse of the Pakatan government in 2020 when it withdrew from the coalition.

       State Parti Amanah Negara chief Aminolhuda Hassan said Bersatu had reached out to him on the possibility of collaborating with his party in the state polls, adding that unity was vital for the Opposition to win the Johor election.

       Aminolhuda said Pakatan must work with other opposition parties to take on Barisan Nasional in the state.

       “We need an understanding (among Opposition parties) to face Umno and Barisan.

       “We need to discuss and should be open to Bersatu. We need to sit at the same table (with other opposition parties).”

       However, Aminolhuda felt a meeting should be held with other Pakatan parties such as PKR and DAP.

       “The meeting should involve the three Pakatan component parties,” he said in an interview yesterday.

       Aminolhuda added that seat negotiations among Pakatan parties were expected to be completed today.

       “Once it’s finalised, we will make an announcement,” he said.

       Other opposition parties that have indicated interest to contest in the election are Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Parti Pejuang Tanah Air and Parti Warisan.

       Aminolhuda was coy on whether he would defend his Parit Yaani seat.

       “It depends. If there are capable youths who can take over, why not?” said Aminolhuda, who has held the seat for two terms since 2013.

       Meanwhile, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters on Monday that he planned to cooperate with other opposition parties such as Warisan, Muda and Pejuang to take on Barisan.

       “A preliminary agreement has been made where we will open the space to rope in all opposition groups.

       “It is not going to help if there is a hairline crack (in the opposition).,” he said.

       “We have to have one voice, one action and one strategy to ensure Barisan is defeated,” Anwar added.

       Prior to the dissolution of the state assembly on Saturday, the Johor government had a one-seat majority with 28 seats (Barisan 16, Bersatu 11 and PAS one) to Pakatan’s 27 seats.

       Bersatu was part of Pakatan prior to the events of the “Sheraton Move” in February 2020.

       The “Sheraton Move” saw Bersatu and several PKR MPs leaving Pakatan, subsequently triggering its collapse and the government was replaced by Perikatan Nasional.