PPBM sends list of seats it wants to contest to Pakatan

Some of the seats overlap those demanded by other PH component parties.

(FMT) – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) has submitted to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership council a list of state and parliamentary seats it wishes to contest in the next general election.

According to PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin, some of the seats overlap with those demanded by other PH component parties.

“We did discuss the seat allocation in the PH meeting in Parliament yesterday,” he told a press conference at PPBM headquarters here today.

“We expressed hope that they will take into account the role we can play to draw support from the ordinary public, especially the Malay and Bumiputera voters.

“Yes, definitely there were some overlapping seats; we know which ones.

“We have to discuss this with one another, bearing in mind our goal to avoid multi-cornered fights. We have to give and take.”

He refused to name the seats the party had asked for.

Muhyiddin said PPBM had also stressed the need for all PH component parties to work and support one another, and to look at the winnability factor in the matter of seat negotiations.

“Whoever can deliver the seat should be given the opportunity to contest there. But this will be pursued by the PH technical committee.

“If they (the respective parties) think they can win the seat, we will let them contest there.

“If they think we can win, then we will contest the seat.

“But on our part, we have already identified which seats we want to contest at the state and national levels.”

When asked if he feared what happened during the Sarawak state election would occur again in the next general election, Muhyiddin said it was a mistake that the opposition had learned from.

The May 7, 2016 Sarawak election saw the opposition suffer an embarrassing defeat due to unresolved conflicts between the state PKR and DAP, resulting in the parties going head to head for the same seats.

This time around, whatever PH parties agree on would be respected, said Muhyiddin, who was formerly Umno deputy president.

The Pagoh MP also noted the public’s scepticism over the opposition’s ability to put up a united front. This was a problem that PH leaders recognised and were working to resolve, he added.

“Allow us to discuss freely and frankly on matters involving PH and, more importantly, on how to move forward to become attractive enough to draw the public’s support.

“This is a big challenge; it’s not a straightforward thing. We have discussed this and in time we will resolve it. The sooner, the better. But let us pursue this one step at a time, and we will arrive at an amicable solution.”

As for PPBM’s efforts to have PAS on its side, Muhyiddin said the party’s stand remained the same – it would put off any discussion with PAS until the Islamist party’s muktamar, scheduled for the end of April.

“We want to see the developments first. We did not discuss this during today’s PPBM supreme council meeting.”