PETALING JAYA: Parti Amanah Negara is ready to play a "mediating role" in uniting Opposition parties ahead of the 15th General Election, says party communications director Khalid Abdul Samad.

       "Amanah is ready to play its crucial role to return unity and togetherness among Opposition parties to take on Barisan Nasional in the next general election," he said.

       Khalid was speaking during a press conference held after a breaking of fast event at Wisma Amanah Negara in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (April 14).

       Presently, Opposition parties consist of Pakatan Harapan, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), and Parti Warisan.

       Khalid urged all Opposition parties to take heed from the outcome of the Melaka, Sarawak and Johor state elections.

       "Correct your attitude and approach so that a winnable strategy can be successfully implemented.

       "Don't allow these defeats to make us pessimistic or negative and instead, use this as a lesson and correct our weaknesses," said Khalid.

       In the Melaka state elections, PKR lost in all 11 seats; Amanah won one and DAP managed to retain merely four seats.

       The Sarawak state elections saw PKR and Amanah losing in all the seats contested, while DAP only managed to retain two seats.

       In the Johor state polls, DAP retained 10 seats, while PKR and Amanah each retained one seat.

       Also present during the event was Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

       He said that cooperation with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia would be collectively decided by Pakatan's top leadership.

       "But, Bersatu is still in the government. They are not Opposition," said Mohamad.

       However, Mohamad said Amanah is open to cooperation with Opposition parties like Pejuang.

       "In Parliament, they also voted the same as Pakatan. We can sit down and discuss with them," added Mohamad.

       Meanwhile, Khalid said Pakatan leaders are free to meet with anyone from the opposite political divide, including Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       "We won't stop our leadership from meeting anyone. But, any decision must be brought to the party's highest leadership, and then Pakatan," he added.

       Muhyiddin had said Bersatu is still open to discussions with "like-minded" parties to achieve victory in GE15.

       The previous Pakatan government formed after the 14th General Election in May 2018 consisted of PKR's 50 MPs, DAP's 42 MPs, Amanah (11), and Bersatu (26).

       The "Sheraton Move" in February 2020 saw the exit of Bersatu and 11 MPs from PKR, triggering the collapse of the Pakatan government.

       Following the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government in March 2020, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had gone on to form Pejuang along with several former Bersatu MPs, while former Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman formed Muda.

       Analysts have said that in order to avoid the outcome of the Johor, Melaka and Sarawak state elections, it is crucial for Opposition parties to avoid clashing in GE15.