At sixes and sevens
Penang seat allocations also appear to hit a snag
The general election is imminent, yet Pakatan Harapan parties are still scrambling to finalise seat allocation in six states in Peninsular Malaysia – Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Melaka. The final decision could now land in the hands of the coalition’s top leadership, which meets today. State entry seat quota into the in the fold. seventh state, Penang, has also hit a snag – a result of Pribumi and Amanah’s
PETALING JAYA: With the clock ticking away to the 14th General Election, the various parties in Pakatan Harapan are in a frenzy to sort out the seat allocations.
The top leadership of Pakatan is expected to meet today to try and finalise allocations for state assembly seats in six states in Peninsular Malaysia – Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Melaka. The meeting is to be chaired by Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
State seat allocation discussions in Penang are also reported to have hit a snag.
While Barisan Nasional tends to follow tradition in seat allocation, discussions among Pakatan parties are complicated by the fact that newly formed Pribumi is now in the fray and PAS is no longer in the coalition with its place taken over by Amanah. PSM is also on the opposition ticket but on its own.
Perak Pakatan chief Faizal Azumu said parties in the pact hoped to wrap up the seat allocations soon.
“We are waiting for an endorsement by our national leaders,” he said.
Melaka Pakatan secretary Khoo Poay Tiong said the Opposition parties in the pact were negotiating, “in the spirit of brotherhood”.
He said DAP would run in all seats which it contested in the last general election with Pribumi, PKR and Amanah dividing the remaining seats among themselves.
Pahang Pakatan chief Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman said two state seats had yet to be decided, which he attributed to Amanah being allocated only one parliamentary seat in Pahang.
“There has to be some give-andtake. A solution has to be found for the sake of the coalition’s unity,” said Fauzi.
Terengganu Pakatan information chief Hambali Abdul Latiff said the Opposition pact’s presidential council would make a final decision on seat allocations.
In the state, Pribumi reportedly wants to square off against Barisan in parliament seats that the ruling coalition won including in Setiu, Hulu Terengganu and Besut.
Amanah wants to take on PAS in Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu as well as PAS president Datuk Seri Dr Hadi Awang’s stronghold in Marang. PKR, meanwhile, is aiming to field candidates in Kemaman and Dungun.
In Kelantan, state leaders from PKR, who still have a close relationship with the ruling PAS, appear to be shunning Pakatan Harapan ceramah, said director of the Malaysian Political Analysis Institute at Universiti Utara Malaysia Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff.
In George Town, the entry of Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has complicated matters for the current powers in DAP and PKR.
State PKR vice-chairman Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon said a deadlock over certain seats would be discussed in the Pakatan presidential council meeting tonight.
“There are disagreements among the parties on certain seats. We hope a solution can be found at national level,” he said.
Mohd Rashid, who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, added that the PKR incumbents would generally be retained.
State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow could not be reached for comment.
In Kedah, Pakatan Harapan will contest in 15 parliamentary seats with PKR getting six followed by Amanah (five) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (four).
For the 36 state seats, Amanah and Pribumi will contest in 12 each while PKR and DAP will contest in nine and three respectively.
State DAP chairman Tan Kok Yew, who is also Derga assemblyman, said the allocation of seats has not been finalised but the list has been handed to the respective parties’ leadership.
PM to consult BN leaders to finalise candidates’ list
KUALA TERENGGANU:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will consult the mentris besar and chief ministers from Barisan Nasional to finalise the coalition’s candidates’ list for the coming general election, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He added that Najib, who is Barisan chairman and Umno president, has the power to decide on the final list of candidates.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said Barisan has its own criteria to select the right candidates. They must be well-liked by the people and have a strong interest in their welfare.
“They must also work well with representatives from other areas,” he said at a press conference on the sidelines of Expo Terengganu 2018 here yesterday.
He also rubbished talk that the Barisan candidates’ list has been leaked, saying that such things are a norm when the elections are near.
“We cannot stop or prevent anyone from making any claim (that they have been cho- sen as candidates).
“But we must abide by and accept the decision of the PM as Barisan chairman and Umno president,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is Deputy Prime Minister.
To questions by the press, he said that he did not want to comment on when the elections will be held.
Previously, Dr Ahmad Zahid himself hinted that the general election could take place after Chinese New Year and before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
On a separate matter, Dr Ahmad Zahid announced that local celebrity Daniel Tyler (pic) will be given Permanent Resident status.
The 29-year-old travel host from Bristol, Britain, is known locally as “Mat Dan” and speaks the Terengganu Malay dialect fluently.
When met after the ceremony, Tyler said he was delighted with the announcement as he knew the permanent resident application process was difficult.
“Thank you Malaysia and the people of Terengganu for accepting me. It is a dream come true,” he said.
Tyler first came to Terengganu as a tourist in 2009. He embraced Islam in 2013 and took up the name Kareef Daniel Abdullah.