Sarawak polls: PKR-DAP spat continues

> ‘No point in DAP’s one-for-five offer’

PETALING JAYA: The opposition parties continue to be at loggerheads over seats in the Sarawak election, with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) refusing to back down over five disputed seats with the DAP.

PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar said there was no point in DAP asking PKR to withdraw from the five seats in exchange for Batu Kitang.

He said the one-forfive exchange proposal showed that DAP was not serious about Batu Kitang.

Speaking in Kuching yesterday, Xavier said all PKR candidates in the five seats were highly qualified and had vast experience. These candidates stood out compared to the DAP candidates, he said.

The five other areas where PKR will be taking on DAP are Mulu, Murum, Ngemah, Mambong and Simanggang.

DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke had on Monday said DAP was willing to withdraw its candidate Aziz Isa from Batu Kitang in return for PKR’s withdrawal from five other seats.

On the Batu Kitang seat, Xavier said PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni had been working the ground for nearly 10 years and was a well-known family lawyer and social activist working for social justice since 1999.

Voon, he added, had established an extensive network with the local communities, compared to the DAP candidate “who was fielded at the last minute”.

Meanwhile, DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the Opposition’s hold on Batu Kitang had been severely affected following the seat allocation feud.

He said the three-cornered fights in several other seats would also result in a split in votes, which might put BN in the lead.