Pakatan fears losses in Penang three-way fights
After PAS’ decision to contest every seat, PKR leaders worry about an erosion of votes even though the alliance is the ruling party in Penang.
(FMT) -With Pakatan Harapan leaders still to decide on fresh state assembly elections in Penang, PKR leaders have expressed concern at the prospect of facing PAS as a rival for votes, and an erosion of support for the ruling state coaliton.
The DAP is the dominant party, commanding 19 seats in the 40-member assembly, just two seats short of having an outright majority on its own. PKR and Barisan Nasional both have 10 seats each, with PAS holding one seat.
But if PAS enters the fray, as promised by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday, PKR leaders believe their party’s seats would be under threat.
Hadi had said the party would contest every state assembly seat, if fresh elections are called, and reminded Pakatan Harapan leaders that PAS had strong grassroot support in Penang which has brought victory to the then opposition alliance of Pakatan Rakyat.
Pakatan Rakyat collapsed last year when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng called time on the coalition out of differences with Hadi and PAS for seeking to increase the powers of the shariah courts in Kelantan.
With PAS in the contest, three-cornered fights between it, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan would divide the anti-BN vote, as was shown in the Sarawak elections in May and two parliamentary by-elections last month.
“That is an issue which we are facing,” said a senior PKR leader in remarks quoted by Malay Mail Online. “It is quite obvious that it is a given” – that PAS would contest in seats held by PKR and DAP – and that would especially affect PKR.
“We do not want to be giving Umno any dominance, and also we would like to keep our seats,” the PKR source was quoted as saying.
The PAS decision to contest would also affect chances of forming a grand alliance of all opposition parties and a new party mooted by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who seeks to oust Umno president and prime minister Najib Razak.
The proposal for fresh elections came from the DAP after Guan Eng was charged with two counts of corruption. He must face trial and the party fears the effects of the hearings on voters, with only two years at most left until the next general election.
