National PKR, DAP plead Sarawak chapters to resolve seat fights before nominations
(MMO) – The national PKR and DAP leadership have urged their Sarawak chapters to settle their conflict over seat allocations in the Sarawak state election that has yet to be resolved before nominations tomorrow.
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said Pakatan Harapan (PH), which comprises PKR, the DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, should try to avoid multi-corner fights against the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) in the May 7 polls.
“I appeal at this 11th hour for both parties to sit down and see how best we can work to ensure one-to one fight against Barisan Nasional,” Azmin told reporters at Ampang Jaya last night after participating in the Ampang Jaya Night Run.
“Yesterday, Baru Bian announced [that] 35 seats [have been] resolved, five are still in discussion. So give them a chance to discuss within the next 48 hours,” he said, referring to the Sarawak PKR chief.
Sarawak PKR unveiled Friday a list of 35 candidates and said five more seats were still being negotiated with the DAP ― believed to be Bukit Semuja, Simanggang, Mambong, Mulu and Murum ― that the predominantly Chinese party had already said it would contest among its 30 seats.
“In the interest of Sarawakians and to show that Pakatan Harapan is united and we have a common objective to fight Barisan Nasional, so I think this is the best battleground for us to show unity,” Azmin said last night, when asked how the federal opposition pact would convince voters on its leadership when it is embroiled in internal conflict.
DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said that seat negotiations between the Pakatan Harapan component parties were already finalised two weeks ago, via the “give-and-take” approach, in a final meeting between DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Azmin.
“The agreement was further unanimously endorsed by the PH Presidential Council which was also attended by Azmin. No objections were raised then,” Pua told Malay Mail Online.
The senior DAP leader added that after the agreement was reached, his party was not contacted on any additional negotiations on the seat arrangement.
“However, as far as we are concerned, both parties have made sacrifices during the negotiations in the interest of the wider picture to fight BN one-to-one. The honourable thing to do now is to stick to the settlement and focus our energies on Sarawak,” said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang also appealed yesterday for Pakatan Harapan to engage BN in straight contests.
There are 82 seats up for contest this May 7, 11 more than the previous 2011 Sarawak state election in which the opposition had only won 15 seats — DAP 12 and PKR three — and an Independent one.
