S'wak PKR/DAP finally meet to face BN challenge

State PKR and DAP leaders have met for the first time in an effort to iron out problems and differences after the last election to present a united front against the State BN in the upcoming State election.

Their main concern is seat allocation in certain constituencies and they say they have managed to iron out most of the differences, leaving less critical issues to be discussed at their next meeting scheduled for September 5.

The "problem" seats include certain urban and semi-urban areas which both PKR and DAP are trying to stake a claim.

In the last election the two parties "undermined" each other which resulted in the BN victories.

"Yes we have discussed these problems and agreed on certain seat allocations and disagreed in others.

Our meeting was a fruitful one," said Baru Bian, a member of PKR negotiating team.

"PKR and DAP have reached extensive agreement at the meeting that was cordial and is a first step forward for us to come and work together," he said after the two and a half hours meeting at the DAP Kuching service centre at Chonglin Park.

Agreement in most areas

Both parties, said Baru, were happy to come to an agreement about the seat allocations.

Richard Wong Ho Leng, who was part of the DAP team agreed with Baru that they had "agreed to disagree" on certain issues and that the "differences were common."

Both parties, he stressed, would ensure that they would not repeat the mistakes of the past, adding, that "we will ensure a straight fight against Barisan Nasional."

Wong, who is Bukit Assek state assemblyperson, said that the majority of the seats to be contested had been agreed upon.

Describing their meeting as "first official step", Wong said that DAP would also have talks with PAS and SNAP on seat allocation and field candidates who had a better chance of winning certain seats.

PKR representatives at the meeting included Gabriel Adit, the state assemblyperson for Ngemah and Jimmy Donald, the former MP for Sri Aman, while the DAP was represented by among others, Chong Siew Chiang.

Notably absent from the meeting were State DAP advisor and state assemblyperson for Padungan, Dominique Ng and DAP secretary and MP for Bandar Kuching, Chong Chieng Jen.