PKR: We gave DAP chance to renegotiate till midnight
S'WAK POLLS The blame game between PKR and DAP over a six-seat clash in the Sarawak election continues, with PKR vice president Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin saying the party had waited till midnight last night to negotiate.
However, the Bukit Katil MP said there was no response from DAP, forcing PKR to go ahead with plans to contest five disputed seats - Mambong, Ngemah, Siamanggang, Murum and Mulu, he said.
"There is no issue of PKR shortchanging DAP as claimed by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. This is not the way PKR treats its allies," he said in a statement.
He said PKR was open to negotiation even when DAP had jumped the gun and announced its candidates without approval from the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, as agreed.
"The most devastating part is that the number of seats where PKR and DAP clashed was increased from five to six, to include Batu Kitang.
"This is a wasteful move which makes victory more difficult, breaches the original agreements and reduces the chances of a young, female professional, that is PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni," he asserted.
DAP said it is contesting Batu Kitang in retaliation to PKR's decision to renege on the agreement on the other five seats.
Lim said DAP was willing to overlook a clash on one seat, but could not possibly turn a blind eye over five seats.
"Let me reiterate that our enemy is BN. We hope we can unite in the effort to topple BN and continue to win the people's support," Shamsul said.
Most of the seats which DAP and PKR are clashing in have Dayak majority.
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said he was given the mandate by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to "resolve" the overlaps.
He then instructed Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian to issue authorisation letters to the five candidates.
For more news and views that matter, subscribe and support independent media for only RM0.36 sen a day:
Subscribe now