Azmin: PKR will not split votes during next GE

(The Star) – PKR will maintain the principle of a straight fight against Barisan Nasional in the upcoming general election, despite PAS’ intention to contest in multi-cornered fights against DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, says Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

The PKR deputy president said all Opposition parties would have to go through a negotiation process, to ensure a “head-to-head” fight against their common political enemy.

However, Azmin, who is also Selangor Mentri Besar, said that the matter was the least of his concerns for the time being.

“The 14th General Election is still a long way to go. My priority now is to develop the state and how it will benefit the people,” he said after a handover ceremony of land titles here, Sunday.

On Saturday, PAS’ Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said the Islamist party was determined to take on its former ally DAP and its splinter party Amanah in the next general election.

He said this was because PAS had made its decision to stand on its own, while maintaining a political cooperation with PKR.

“This is what happens when we chose to be alone, we will contest in more seats, including the ones contested by DAP and Amanah because we don’t have any ties with them.

“We are not giving a single seat even to Amanah, even if it means that it will result in a multi-corner fight,” he had said.

PAS vice-president Datuk Iskandar Samad had last week revealed that the state would contest in 25 seats – five more seats than their previous 20 seats contested in the previous general election.

Azmin, however, said that the political situation was different in Selangor, where PKR managed to work with the duelling Opposition political factions.

He said this while referring to the recent allocation of eight local council seats for Amanah in Selangor.

“I am grateful that the allocation was not seen as a political reward, but a democratic responsibility involving all political parties,” he said.