Squabbles over seats normal, says Mahathir

BUTTERWORTH: Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has admitted there is discontentment within the opposition alliance over the allocation of seats for the 14th general election (GE14).

“If one party is satisfied, then something is wrong. All parties cannot be accommodated in any election. But our struggle is to win an election, not just to contest in it. So we must be united on our best choice of candidates.”

Mahathir said Barisan Nasional (BN) would likely win the elections if Pakatan is not united.

He said Pakatan has resolved the issue for the 222 parliamentary constituencies, leaving only the state seats to be negotiated.

“I am confident we can resolve it. In the 2013 election, Pakatan quarrelled until the last minute over seats allocation. But this time, you can see that we have made inroads by preparing early for it. I think there is time to find a good formula.”

He appealed to Pakatan allies DAP, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Amanah and PKR to accept the candidates chosen.

Meanwhile, Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has criticised a statement by Mahathir calling for street protests should Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak declare a state of emergency to circumvent GE14.

Salleh said Najib is not a dictator who would resort to such a move, adding that the prime minister had no power to declare an emergency other than to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and that it was the latter’s prerogative to decide on the matter.