‘PPBM trying to dominate pact’
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of parliamentary and state seats to be contested by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) proves that the party is trying to dominate the opposition coalition, while also cementing its position beyond the 14th General Election.
Political analyst Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said PPBM’s greed in the division of seats would create further issues in its quest to win the election.
He said this was because there was talk of dissatisfaction from within the coalition over the distribution of seats.
“As revealed by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, PPBM had initially requested 80 parliament seats in the peninsula, and despite this being reduced to 52 seats, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) had to sacrifice seats to make way for PPBM,” said Kamarul Zaman.
He was commenting on the distribution of seats involving PPBM, which also saw the party receiving the most number of candidatures for state seats in Johor.
Johor PPBM secretary Datuk Osman Sapian was quoted as saying the decision was made upon the approval of the presidents of four parties in Pakatan Harapan.
Kamarul Zaman said the seats distribution in Johor had irked PAN, and the greed displayed by PPBM was uncalled for, especially since it was the newest party in Pakatan.
“The greed shown by PPBM in grabbing parliamentary seats is part of its strategy, as should it command more parliamentary seats compared with PKR, it would justify its quest for a permanent post of prime minister, instead of an interim one,” he said.
He said at state level, PPBM’s strateg y ensured that should the opposition pact fail to win the parliamentary battle, it would need a state stronghold to sustain its struggle.
A former PPBM founding member, Kamarulazaman Habibur Rahman, said PPBM was struggling in preparations for the election despite being given the most number of seats as most of the seats were those that were hard to win.
“On the surface, it looks like PPBM dominates the opposition pact, but in reality, it knows it cannot depend on chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”