PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is perhaps one of the opposition's key political strategists, having played a major role in negotiations between parties during the 2013 general elections and 2016 Sarawak state elections.
Azmin even positioned himself in such a way that during the 2015 Selangor menteri besar crisis he became the new state chief administrator without ever publicly campaigning for the job.
But things don't always go Azmin's way.
His political manoeuvring in Sarawak saw his party clash with ally DAP in six seats and had been partly blamed for Pakatan Harapan's reduced presence in the state.
Now his mission to bring PAS back into the main opposition fold ahead of the next general election is also facing a mountain of scepticism from other Harapan component parties.
"It's up to him (Azmin) if he wants to talk to PAS, but we are confident it won't bear any positive results," Amanah communications director Khalid Samad told Malaysiakini.
Azmin has been trying to talk to PAS for over a year. His attempts to get them to sit out the Sungai Besar by-election in exchange for Amanah not contesting in Kuala Kangsar had failed, and BN ended up winning both seats with increased majorities.
More recently, he admitted that he was engaged in informal talks with the Islamist party for the past few months.
Coalition leaders Malaysiakini spoke to indicated that Azmin never formally informed Harapan of his chats, but it appeared to be an open secret everyone knew about.
"This matter has never been discussed in Harapan, although we are aware of his personal position on the matter," DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said.
Not briefed
Meanwhile Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) strategist Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff said the party was aware of the informal talks but "were not briefed on the specifics".
Speaking to Malaysiakini separately, Khalid, Pua and Rais Hussin all expressed cynicism about Azmin's potential to succeed in getting PAS to work with Harapan.
The problem for them, however, was not Azmin's negotiating prowess or lack thereof, but rather whether or not PAS would stonewall him.
"Negotiating with PAS is not easy and very challenging. PAS' illusive acrobatics are far more complex than anything you will ever face.
"Changing lanes and tracks at every negotiation point is the hallmark of PAS. Hence it is almost next to impossible to trust PAS," Rais Hussin said.
Khalid meanwhile said that PAS would set conditions that Azmin could not fulfill, such as giving PAS seats at the expense of PKR, Amanah or Bersatu.
He also raised concerns about PAS' chumminess with Umno, saying the Islamist party could end up keeping the ruling Malay party in power.
And it is not just other Harapan parties that are sceptical of Azmin's chances. Kedah and Kelantan PKR state leaders also were not fully convinced the party deputy president could pull off an alliance with PAS.
"The chances of success in Kedah are very low," Kedah PKR chief Azman Ismail said.
His Kelantan counterpart Abdul Aziz Kadir meanwhile said Azmin's chances were "50-50".
Kedah and Kelantan PAS have both denied reports that they want to work with Harapan, a stance which may further stymie Azmin's efforts.
For the national Harapan leaders, the way forward is to focus on what the coalition can achieve on its own and not dwell on past alliances and achievements with PAS.
Pua and Rais Hussin both said this includes winning over PAS supporters who are disgruntled with the party's leadership due to co-operation with Umno.
"Why shouldn't Harapan focus on our strengths and win over whatever number of PAS supporters we can over the next few months?
"By delaying the decision on the matter, we are only indirectly shortchanging ourselves because we will have less time to win over the PAS members and supporters," the Pua said.
PAS is expected to be a spoiler in the next general elections, turning possible straight fights between BN and Harapan into three-cornered bouts.
Harapan fears that this will split the opposition vote, and help BN stay in power by virtue of how the first past-the-post electoral system works. - Mkini
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