KUALA LUMPUR — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim said leaders who did not want to close ranks and fight for Pakatan Harapan (PH) principles should leave the party immediately.

In his speech to attendees of the Pertahan Mandat Rakyat 2020 (Uphold People’s Mandate) event on Monday (March 9) night, Mr Anwar said everyone in the coalition should move as a team to counter the lies of its former allies — who are now in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

“Whatever happens, this team will continue to stay together and build strength. We don’t need to panic, but we have to recover our spirits.

“We must be strong and move as one force and explain to the people to counter the traitors’ lies. Don’t give up and sacrifice our principles.

“Let’s not allow this episode of democratic betrayal happen again. If there is another leader like this, please leave,” he posted on his Facebook on Tuesday along with several photographs of the packed hall of the closed-door event.

On Monday, several attendees of the event told Malay Mail that PH sought to rally all its Members of Parliament (MPs), assemblymen and leaders during a closed-door event last night in an attempt to prevent more from defecting to PN.

PH lost power when Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as the prime minister on Feb 24.

On the same day, 11 MPs from PKR who are aligned with former deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali resigned from the party and the PH coalition to form a new independent bloc in Parliament before subsequently joining Bersatu.

PKR — formerly the biggest party in Dewan Rakyat with 50 seats — now only has 39 MPs, while the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has 42 and another ally Amanah 11.

Former ally Bersatu is currently in the midst of its own civil war with the factions of Dr Mahathir and current prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin trying to consolidate their power in the party — which is also holding its first party election. MALAY MAIL