Anwar Ibrahim has urged all opposition parties, including PAS, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and the Pakatan Harapan components to sit down together and discuss the formation of a viable coalition.

"All the affected parties must be prepared to discuss, that is for the beginning,” the former opposition leader said after the hearing of his qazaf appeal at the Syariah Court of Appeal in Kuala Lumpur.

"Discuss with (Bersatu president) Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin). All of them – Pakatan Harapan, DAP, Amanah, and Bersatu need to discuss with PAS," added Anwar.

The jailed PKR de facto leader said this when asked whether he was confident that DAP and PAS could work together in the coming general election.

Anwar also sent his regards to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and prayed for his health. The Marang MP is currently seeking treatment at the National Heart institute.

Need for combined opposition

Anwar reiterated the need for a strong opposition to face the 14th general election.

“We must continue to engage and we should not stop.

“There is no way out except for a combined opposition force,” he said.

Anwar said yesterday that Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu would negotiate with PAS. This follows the fall of Pakatan Rakyat last year, after the Islamist party and DAP did not see eye to eye. A splinter PAS party, Parti Amanah Negara, was also formed.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu pro-tem president, met with Anwar at the High Court, where the two had a discussion.

Muhyiddin had said that he spoke to Anwar and that Bersatu aims to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan to topple BN in the 14th general election.

"I think it is important for me, as Bersatu president, to build a relationship (with Anwar) so that a cooperation can be forged... and a strong alliance is formed to face BN in the coming general election," Muhyiddin had said yesterday.

In an interview with Reuters, Muhyiddin said he hoped a new alliance could be formed by the end of the year.