Although state Pakatan Rakyat leaders have been advised to remain mum on unresolved seats for the 13th general election, the issue of PKR giving up places to DAP’s Malay candidates in Penang continues to rage on.

NONE Penang PKR information chief Johari Kassim ( right ) has today ticked off its ally PAS for raising the issue in public, saying that negotiations were still open but should be conducted behind closed doors.

Johari said the three component parties in Pakatan Rakyat should focus on seats which are yet to be conquered instead of asking for extra seats in the coming polls, speculated to be around November although it is not due until 2013.

“Negotiations are open but should not be done by making statements to the press but through closed-door meetings within Pakatan,” he told Malaysiakini .

He was responding to state PAS deputy commissioner Mujahid Yusof Rawa who said that PAS was willing to negotiate if the status quo (of seats allocation) was challenged as it involved the party’s credibility.

mujahid yusof rawa Mujahid ( right ), who is Parit Buntar MP, said PAS was will willing to come to the best decision for Pakatan in the issue of seat allocation to DAP so that the party can field Malay candidates.

He added that a party’s winnability within the constituency must first be considered before deciding if it should be given up to another party in the coalition, otherwise problems would arise.

However, the status quo can be challenged, and if it happens, PAS would decide whether it would ask for more or fewer seats, he stressed.

The issue was thrust into the limelight when Penang DAP central committee member Zulkifli Mohd Noor proposed that PKR give up at least six seats - one parliamentary and five state - so that the party can field its Malay candidates.

Johari had responded by asking DAP not to become “big-headed like Umno”, that Malay  DAP members who wished to contest should demand for seats from the ones the parties were currently holding.

DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh had denied the party was vying for PKR’s seats, while secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had advised all sides to stop raising the matter in public.

'Focus on boosting cooperation'

Meanwhile, Johari said that each statement issued by the coalition leaders needs to consider the sensitivities of its allies within Pakatan.

He added that it was better if the Pakatan partners were to focus on strengthening the cooperation among themselves to win their incumbent seats.

“Each party should never respond in an arrogant manner or feel that they are very strong with the victory they currently enjoy,” he said.

“PAS contested in five state seats but merely won one, so what is the guarantee that the party would win more if extra seats were demanded?” he queried.