Bad moon rising over Pakatan
(Borneo Post) – MIRI: Seat tussle spells trouble for opposition front as PKR refuses to accept DAP’s nomination of branch chief for parliamentary seat.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) the opposition front is heading for choppy waters here as two of its component parties DAP and PKR are on a collision course over the candidacy of the Miri constituency.
DAP had stolen the march on PKR by announcing that Senadin DAP branch chairlady Lim Su Kien would be their candidate much to the chagrin of PKR which also planned to put their own candidate for the seat.
As far as PKR is concerned, the issue of who would represent the opposition front in Miri is far from resolved.
“We (PKR) are still lobbying for Miri,” said PKR Miri branch chairman Dr Michael Teo when contacted for comment after Senadin DAP chairlady Lim Su Kien was announced as DAP candidate for Miri recently.
Dr Teo insisted he was still in the running for Miri seat in the upcoming 13th general election, and the announcement by the DAP candidate Lim Su Kien had only narrowed down the list from four to two.
He pushed on with his campaign by visiting SK Pujut Corner recently to distribute the Orange Book that explains Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s plan and policies to the people in anticipation of the impending polls.
Though he and Lim have previously contested in parliamentary elections, Dr Teo stressed his much longer track record and sacrifices of having served the people of Miri as a resident doctor for many years.
He has also stayed faithful to PKR when he first entered politics as a founder member of PKR Miri many years ago.
“It’s better to focus on explaining what we can do to serve the people better, and how our party’s policies can benefit the country,” he added.
Dr Teo will be joining opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Bintulu today (May 19), and continue to push for his case to contest Miri.
The tussle for the seat between the allies is not the only storm PR is facing here as prior to the DAP announcement in Kuching, there were demonstrations by DAP members here protesting the nomination of Lim for Miri.
In the announcement, Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong will become the operations director to assist Lim, the first candidate announced so far.
Meanwhile, state PKR chairman Baru Bian said yesterday PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would have the final say on PR’s candidate for Miri.
He described DAP’s announcement last Thursday that Lim Su Kien would be the candidate for the seat as not final yet, hinting that PKR would name their own candidate very soon for the seat.
“The announcement (by DAP) is not final. We will be naming our own candidate for the seat too,” he told the media on the sideline of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
Two days ago (May 17), state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng told a press conference at DUN complex that the party’s select committee had agreed to name 39-year-old Lim, the candidate of Miri seat.
In urging all DAP members and supporters to support Lim, he said the decision would gear themselves towards winning the seat in the coming general election.
Lim is the first candidate the DAP had publicly acknowledged. The party still has at least 11 names to disclose since its earlier claim to contest in at least 12 constituencies.
The announcement was aimed at putting a stop to speculations among DAP members, who recently had disagreement over candidacy for Miri.
