‘Fight in PH over Selangor state seats far from over’
SHAH ALAM: Contrary to claims by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the fight among Pakatan Harapan allies for seats in Selangor is far from over.
Sources in the opposition pact said Dr Wan Azizah should not have made the statement, when talks were ongoing over who should contest which state seat in Selangor.
“How can Dr Wan Azizah say the seat negotiations are done. Her statement can cause confusion among Pakatan parties,” one source told the New Straits Times. issues regarding seat allocations in all states, except Sabah.
This flew against NST reports, quoting reliable sources in the opposition pact, that seat negotiations in Selangor were far from over.
These stalled negotiations, according to the sources, were over candidacy for 25 state seats held by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pas.
It was also reported that PKR wanted to contest 19 state seats and DAP 18, while Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) were allocated 10 and nine seats, respectively.
However, PPBM and PAN had objected to this.
Selangor PPBM information chief Sallehuddin Amiruddin had said the party insisted on contesting all 12 seats held by BN — Sungai Burong, Jeram, Kuang, Semenyih, Permatang, Bukit Malawati, Sungai Air Tawar, Sungai Panjang, Hulu Bernam, Batang Kali, Kota Damansara and Dengkil.
Pas splinter group PAN, meanwhile, was adamant that its candidates contest the seats won by the former in the last general election — Taman Templer, Lembah Jaya, Paya Jaras, Chempaka, Meru, Dusun Tua, Tanjung Sepat, Sabak, Gombak Setia, Bangi, Seri Serdang, Selat Klang, Sijangkang, Morib and Hulu Klang.
(PAN holds the Hulu Klang and Morib seats as its assemblymen Saari Sungib and Hasnul Baharuddin had left Pas to join the splinter party.)
DAP holds 14 state seats, PKR (13), Pas (13), BN (12) and PAN (2).
Two other seats are held by independent assemblymen — former menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (Port Klang), who had left PKR, and Loh Chee Heng (Teluk Datuk), who had left DAP.