An electoral pack between PKR and Sarawak National Party appears to be at the verge of a complete breakdown following Snap’s announcement today that it is contesting 27 Dayak-majority seats.

At a press conference today, Snap president Edwin Dundang said that the party was compelled to carry out an oath-taking ceremony for its 27 candidates because there was only four days to nominations.

snap pc kuching 050311 edwin dundang Dundang ( left in photo ) explained that the seat negotiations with PKR has stalled because the latter had yet to produce its list of candidates and seats it wishes to contest.

Snap’s list has been shown to PKR leaders during previous negotiations.

“In the absence of the above, Snap believes that PKR either do not have any overlapping seats with Snap or they have decided that they do not want to negotiate this matter in order for an opposition electoral pact to be a reality.

“We have been promised that PKR would have announced their decision on Thursday, March 31. However, they had postponed it to Monday, April 4 (two days before nominations).

“Snap finds it difficult on a last-minute basis to accommodate any administrative and logistical changes,” said Dundang at the party headquarters in Kuching today.

However, Dundang hinted that Snap is still willing to negotiate to ensure straight fights against BN.

“Snap is still hopeful, in spite of the stated difficulties, that PKR and Snap will find an amicable accommodation,” he said.

Snap willing to concede six seats

When quizzed later, Snap secretary-general Stanley Jugol said that there had been two meetings with PKR leaders over the past 10 days.

He claimed that PKR brought “nothing” to the negotiation table.

“They just said that we should sit down and negotiate. They never showed us their list, so what is there to negotiate? They are using delaying tactics,” he said.

Edmund-Stanley-Jugol He said that during negotiations, Snap had dropped its claim to six seats - Pelagus, Ngemah, Batang Ai, Ba'Kelalan, Tamin and Kemena.

Pressed further, Jugol ( left ) said that in the event that PKR fields candidates in the 27 seats claimed by Snap, the party would also field candidates in the six seats.

But for now, the party has issued all 27 candidates the party’s letter of consent.

It is understood that PKR and Snap leaders plan to meet again tomorrow.