As PKR guns for Sarawak seats, DAP again points to January deal
A key Sarawak DAP figure has urged PKR to not renege on Pakatan Harapan's seat distribution agreement signed in January.
In a statement today, Sarawak DAP secretary Alan Ling warned that PKR doing so would break the coalition.
Ling (above) was referring to recent statements made by a "senior leader" in PKR who...
A key Sarawak DAP figure has urged PKR to not renege on Pakatan Harapan's seat distribution agreement signed in January.
In a statement today, Sarawak DAP secretary Alan Ling warned that PKR doing so would break the coalition.
Ling (above) was referring to recent statements made by a "senior leader" in PKR who made demands for state seats through the press. Ling argued such behaviour would only lower Harapan's reputation.
"This is not the correct behaviour for a 'senior leader' in the coalition," said Ling, who is also the Sarawak Harapan secretary.
To back his claims, Ling furnished a copy of a seat distribution deal among Sarawak Harapan leaders signed Jan 2. At the time, it was signed by Larry Sng when he was the Sarawak PKR chief. He left the party the next month.
Ling warned Harapan was already on the back foot due to restrictive campaigning rules and any discord within the coalition will cause more problems.
"For this 'senior leader' to suddenly appear and say unnecessary things to the press, it will only cause cracks. People will not see any benefit in doing so," said Ling.
According to See Hua Daily, Sibu PKR division coordinator Robert Lim said his party will be fielding candidates for the state constituencies of Piasau, Senadin, and Pujut, even if DAP does not give way.
During the 2016 state elections, PKR and DAP struck a deal that allowed the latter to field candidates for these three seats while the Miri parliamentary seat - which encompasses the three state constituencies - was reserved for PKR.
DAP was only successful in Pujut, but PKR eventually won the Miri seat two years later with Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng.
Earlier this week, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim told the press in Sarawak that seat negotiations were still ongoing and talks also involved Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).
Following this, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Cheng Jien disputed Anwar's claims, pointing to the agreement signed in January.
