KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 15): Pakatan Harapan said today that Umno politician Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and his fellow members have been campaigning for the idea of a government without the participation of DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), and urged them to stop.

In a statement, the PH secretariat council said Hishammuddin, in his writing and interviews, had been giving out signals for a return to race-based politics and administration. "This is outdated politics that runs contrary to Pakatan Harapan's inclusive politics," the statement read.

The document was issued jointly by Pakatan Harapan secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Wira Marzuki Yahya, Amanah's secretary-general Datuk Wira Anuar Tahir, and DAP's national organising secretary Anthony Loke.

The statement came after PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly inferred in Parliament earlier today that Hishammuddin, a former Umno vice-president and member of parliament of Sembrong, was working on a plan and had advised MPs not to fear threats of prosecution against them.

"This is the problem of wanting to follow the strategy by Sembrong and others. All this is nonsense. All this is sometimes for personal survival... to close MACC cases. We don't want that. Politics should not be about threats, it should be about principles,” Anwar was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.

The five said PH coalition will hold firm to the PH consensus that had been agreed to by PKR, Pribumi, Amanah, DAP and remain united as the PH coalition government whose membership includes Parti Warisan Sabah in the cabinet.

"On Jan 7, 2018, the Pakatan Harapan consensus had outlined some core matters that became the unifying factor that brought together the component parties and the people of Malaysia to reject the Barisan Nasional government that stood on the political axis of racism, which had dragged the country into the humiliating fold of kleptocracy.

"That was the basis for the mandate that was given by the people during the 14th general election and that trust should not be pawned for political interests.

"Any 'mischievious' attempt to restore such politics after we made the change on May 9 last year, would be a step backward that would not even be recorded in the footnotes of history. Moreover, it gives the chance to the kleptocrats and their cronies to return to power," the statement read.

The five then said that during this Budget 2020 season, people should be reminded of what Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said during a speech in 1991.

“To create a united Malaysia with shared objectives, Malaysia must be a peaceful country, integrated regionally and racially, harmonious, [with its people] being fully cooperative in a just manner and comprising a Bangsa Malaysia that is politically loyal and dedicated to the country,” they quoted him as saying.