PKR and DAP yet to reach consensus on S’wak seats allocation

(The Sun Daily) – Sarawak PKR and DAP are still unable to agree on the allocation of seats for each party to contest in the coming general election due to overlapping claims.

Despite having the second round of meeting on Sunday to finalise the allocation issue, both parties were unable to agree on “a small number of seats”.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, however, expressed confidence that the allocations would be settled before the general elections.

“But we are in an advanced stage of coming up with solutions,” he said today at a press conference.

“The overlapping claims involved a small number of seats.”

Baru, who is also the state assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, said the negotiations between PKR and DAP was a lot easier this time around compared to the run-up to the April state elections.

He said PAS was not represented at the second meeting as it had no overlapping claim on seats with the DAP.

“However, PKR and PAS are both claiming a few seats. So, PKR will hold separate meeting with PAS later,” he added.

Baru also dismissed reports that he will contest in the Baram parliamentary constituency in the coming election.

“I want to make is very clear here that I am not a candidate. We have two qualified persons in mind, one is a lawyer and the other, a soil scientist,” he added.

He said the two had been very active on the ground, trying to get the feedback.

PKR and DAP are eyeing between 12 to 15 seats each, out of 31 parliamentary seats in Sarawak.

PAS is expected to contest two or three Muslim/Malay areas.