PKR is hopeful that it will get to contest the Segamat parliamentary seat in Johor, now that it has given up Gelang Patah to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang for the 13th general election.

azlan The party is in talks with PAS and DAP over this, according to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim who was speaking at a ceramah in Taman Mega Ria, Johor Bahru, last night.

The DAP had contested the Segamat seat in the 2008 general election but lost to BN’s Dr S Subramaniam by 2,991 votes.

The Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, now held by MCA’s Tan Ah Eng, has more than 100,000 voters comprising 54 percent Chinese, 34 percent Malay and 12 percent Indians.

There are  two state seats under it - Nusajaya represented by Abdul Aziz Sapian, and Skudai which elected DAP Johor chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

According to a source close to the Johor PKR leadership, the party had insisted that - if the DAP wants to contest in Gelang Patah - then Lim must be the candidate.

NONE However, Lim himself had offered to contest in Gelang Patah and his intention was relayed to Anwar.

“Prior to the announcement (that Lim is to contest in Gelang Patah), Anwar met all PKR leaders to explain the position. We expressed confidence in his ability to manage the seat negotiations,” said the source.

“Anwar also said that Lim is prepared to take a risk in relinquishing Ipoh Timor (where he is the incumbent MP) to contest in Gelang Patah, and this shows he is brave.

“We had stated that Lim is the only (acceptable) DAP candidate for Gelang Patah. We wanted Anwar to ensure there would be an undertaking, but he said there is no need for this but for understanding. Lim had offered to contest and had asked Anwar's permission.”

It had previously been reported that there was a conflict between Boo and state PKR head Chua Jui Meng over the seat allocation.

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