We’ve been ‘shortchanged’, Guan Eng says as DAP-PKR lock horns in Sarawak

(MMO) – After a breakdown in seat negotiations saw both Pakatan Harapan allies PKR and DAP pitting candidates against one another in several seats for the Sarawak polls, the latter party’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng expressed his disappointment at being “shortchanged”.

According to Malaysiakini, Lim, who was speaking to reporters outside the Senadin nomination centre in Miri this afternoon, pointed out that clashes have been reported as likely in not one but possibly up to five seats.

“If one seat we understand, we can try to overlook, but (this is at least) five seats, how can we overlook this?

“We feel that DAP has been shortchanged,” he was quoted as saying.

The Penang chief minister also reportedly complained that the contests between PKR and DAP would create confusion among voters, as both parties should be fighting from the same side.

Early reports indicate that PKR and DAP will clash in the Batu Kitang and Mulu seats, and possibly several others but this has yet to be confirmed by the Election Commission (EC).

The two parties were over the weekend engaged in talks regarding overlapping claims for five seats – Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Mambong and Ngemah.

PKR had on Friday announced that it will field candidates in 35 seats and said it would negotiate with the DAP on another five seats that the latter party was also eyeing.

A previous agreement struck between the national leaderships of both parties had ensured there would be no overlaps in any of the 82 seats up for grabs.

The EC is currently holding a press conference to confirm the final tally of candidates for the May 7 polls.

According to a news flash from Bernama, there will be a total of 45 multi-cornered fights for the polls and 35 straight fights.