DAP insists on contesting 30 seats despite conflict with PKR

(MMO) – The DAP insisted today that it would honour its agreement with PKR and contest 30 seats in the Sarawak state election, despite Sarawak PKR claiming ongoing negotiations over five seats.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the predominantly Chinese party would contest in more seats with non-Chinese majorities than those with majority Chinese voters, 16 and 14 seats respectively.

“DAP hopes that both PKR and DAP can work together and help each other to ensure mutual victories and to fulfil the historic mission of denying BN (Barisan Nasional) its two-thirds majority in the Sarawak state assembly,” Lim said in a statement in the Murum state constituency in Bintulu, Sarawak, today.

“As part of the accord with the PKR leadership, DAP has sacrificed the newly created seat of Batu Kitang (carved out from the DAP-held seats of Batu Kawah and Kota Sentosa) which was intended to be contested by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

“DAP will give full support to the female candidate Voon Shiak Ni as announced by PKR deputy president and Selangor MB Datuk Seri Azmin Ali,” he added.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian announced yesterday the party’s 35 candidates for the May 7 polls and said five more were still being negotiated with the DAP.

The five seats are believed to be Bukit Semuja, Simanggang, Mambong, Mulu and Murum, all of which were among the list of 30 seats unveiled on Thursday by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen.

During the last Sarawak state election in 2011, DAP won the lion’s share of seats for the opposition, taking 12 of the 15 seats it contested while PKR won three.