GE13: Anwar has hands full with seat squabbles
(Borneo Insider) – KOTA KINABALU: The Pakatan Rakyat coalition plus is embroiled in a bitter fight over six parliamentary seats, as each of the partners stake a claim saying they are winnable.
PKR de facto leader Datuk Anwar has now left it to the Sabah PR together with its allies, Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah and Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah to untangle the mess.
The troubled seats are Tuaran, Kota Marudu, Tawau, Labuan, Keningau and Kota Belud.
The most noticeable is the Tuaran seat where incumbent Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, who leads an ad-hoc non-governmental movement aligned to Pakatan Rakyat (APS), is facing stiff opposition from PKR veteran Ansari Abdullah, the Tuaran PKR chief.
Ansari, is often seen as a loyalist to Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and is closely aligned to Azmin Ali, but he rocked the boat earlier when he openly proposed his name for Tuaran amid seat-sharing discussions with Pakatan leaders.
Tawau is sought by the PKR which gave way to the DAP for the Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan parliamentary seats. But the DAP is still insisting that it is a more “winnable” choice for Tawau.
The PKR is keen to field lawyer and former state minister Datuk Kong Hong Ming in Tawau while DAP’s choice is the party’s Tawau information chief Chan Foong Hin.
The PKR has also asked PAS to make way for its candidate, Tan Sri Ibrahim Menuddin, (annpunced by Anwar on Friday) for the Labuan seat.
PAS has named the party’s Labuan information chief Hadnan Mohamad (picture) as its choice for that seat.
Hadnan subsequently insisted that he would be contesting the seat as he had been named the Opposition candidate there.
Ibrahim quit Umno last year before signing up with PKR.
Anwar, in trying to play down tensions on Friday, described the existing relationship between PKR, APS and PPPS as “special and important” because the candidates from their allies would be using the PKR symbol in the GE13.
He also stressed that it was also important to maintain the friendship with PAS and Democratic Action Party.
He said they have learned from previous experiences, and that the people today are more open and exposed to information.
“They want to see qualified Member of Parliament (MP) and Adun (assemblyman) (to represent them). Being popular does not qualify you to become a MP and ADUN, but you may be suitable for other posts, like that at the Municipal Council.
“But one of the most important factor to becoming a candidate is the ability to support the Party’s struggle and loyalty, especially in facing giant party like Barisan Nasional, as they have funds,” he said.
