Any move by Pakatan Rakyat partners into ‘mixed’ constituencies traditionally contested by PKR would be “unfair”.

Contacted today, PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh said this is because the party had put in a lot of hard work in the constituencies, even when these seats were not considered winnable.

“Mixed sea NONE ts used to be killer seats, but now everyone wants (them) because in the current political scenario, it is easiest to develop strategies to win such seats (which have no clear racial majority among voters),” she said.

“(PKR) was given these seats in 1999 and has not stopped working since then. It would be quite unfair to take them now.”

She was responding to a statement by newly-elected PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who said it is time for the Islamic party to contest more mixed seats as it now appeals to non-Malays.

Fuziah who, until late last year was PKR election director, said the party is also facing the DAP’s claims to mixed seats, especially after the latter’s sweep in the Sarawak election in April.

NONE “I understand that (the new PAS) leadership wants to grow its influence. DAP says the same thing, but it is important for them to understand that when you eat into another party’s piece of cake, you have to give something back,” she said.

She noted that DAP still insists on contesting in Chinese-majority areas and PAS in the Malay-majority areas like Kelantan and Kedah, “forgetting that PKR has Chinese and Malay leaders too”.

Fuziah also refuted claims that PAS’ growing popularity among non-Muslims makes it a more winnable party to contest mixed seats compared to PKR which has gone through a tumultuous period in the past year.

“I think we have settled down now and are regaining stability (after the heated party direction election),” she said.

‘PKR will remain central party’

Similarly, she said PAS will not take over PKR’s position as the central party in Pakatan despite the appeal of the new leadership line-up, as the Islamic party is still grounded by its ideology.

azlan “PAS remains an ideological party and the same goes with DAP, while (PKR) is the central party in between,” she said, while acknowledging that the Pakatan leadership council has the final say in seat allocations.  

PKR election director Azmin Ali in February had expressed discomfort over PAS moving into PKR’s turf, expressing frustration that the Islamic party was using the fact that it is older and more experienced as a trump card.

DAP and PAS too may have overlapping claims on seats, with the former expressing its intention to contest in the Malay belt of Terengganu and Kelantan to enhance its image as a multiracial party.

The next general election is due in 2013, but political parties are preparing for a possible snap election as early as next month.

Pakatan is expected to finalise its seat negotiations in the next weeks. PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed that the 2008 list will be retained but with “several swaps” expected.