FT PKR Youth retracts statement slamming BN’s claim on 5 seats

The wing says the issue will be discussed internally in the spirit of the unity government.

(FMT) – PKR Youth has retracted a statement in which one of its leaders slammed Barisan Nasional over its intention to contest five parliamentary seats in the federal territories in the next general election.

Federal territories PKR Youth chief Naqib Nasaruddin said the issue will be negotiated internally among the unity government partners.

“We retract the statement to respect the spirit of the unity government coalition and this matter will be discussed in a brotherly spirit within the unity government,” he told FMT.

Earlier, information chief Azha Salahuddin said BN’s goal of contesting five seats in the federal territories in GE16 was impossible and unrealistic.

This was because PKR and DAP hold five seats there each, while BN holds one (Titiwangsa) and Perikatan Nasional two (Putrajaya and Labuan).

PKR has held the Batu, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Lembah Pantai and Bandar Tun Razak seats for multiple terms, and the same goes for DAP in Kepong, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh and Cheras.

Azha also questioned whether BN’s declaration was aimed at destabilising the unity government within the federal territories.

Yesterday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that the coalition can expand its presence in the federal territories by contesting five parliamentary seats in the next general election.

He said BN would engage in discussions with its partners in the unity government, with the goal of making the federal territories a stronghold of the unity alliance.

Umno vice-president Johari Ghani won BN’s sole FT seat in Titiwangsa in the last general election.