SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan’s preparations for the 14th General Election appears to still be in disarray, with the opposition pact yet to finalise the thorny issue of seat allocations in several states.
In Selangor, a two-day meeting on state seat allocations failed to yield any results, with angry exchanges occurring between party leaders.
According to sources, initial information suggested that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) would contest 19 state seats, DAP (18), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) with 10, and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) with nine.
Sources claimed that arguments broke out in the meetings, which were chaired by Pakatan Selangor secretary, Zuraida Kamarudin.
“In the meetings, PKR representatives had declared that the party needs to be the leader in Pakatan, and that it would be contesting 19 seats.
“This caused discord among the PPBM and Pan leaders. We were made to understand that this directive came from Azmin (Selangor PH chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali),” said the source.
The source claimed that PPBM and PAN were of the opinion that PPBM would contest in 12 seats currently held by Barisan Nasional (BN), while PAN would tackle 13 seats held by Pas.
“Among the seats sought by PKR are Kuang, Sijangkang, Jeram, Permatang and Hulu Bernam. DAP meanwhile want Lembah Jaya and Taman Templer. However, based on the spirit of unity in Pakatan, we are sure that we can resolve this peacefully,” he said.
PAN had maintained that it intends to contest the state seats held by Pas, which are Taman Templer, Lembah Jaya, Paya Jaras, Chempaka, Meru, Dusun Tua, Tanjung Sepat, Sabak, Gombak Setia, Bangi, Seri Serdang, Selat Klang, Sijangkang, Morib and Hulu Klang.
Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib dan Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin, who had won the seats in the 13th General Election on a Pas ticket, have since jumped to PAN.
BN meanwhile won 12 seats in GE13, which are in Sungai Burong, Jeram, Kuang, Semenyih, Permatang, Bukit Malawati, Sungai Air Tawar, Sungai Panjang, Hulu Bernam, Batang Kali, Kota Damansara and Dengkil.
Over in Kangar, Perlis Pakatan component parties have yet to reach consensus on state seat distribution for GE14 following last-minute changes to the allocation of three Parliamentary seats.
The distribution of state seats, which was scheduled to be completed by the end of last month, has yet to be resolved as Pakatan components were forced to return to the drawing board after PAN had to sacrifice its parliamentary seat to PPBM.
It is understood that according to an initial plan, PKR, PPBM and PAN would be contesting each of the three Parliamentary seats in Perlis.
However, PAN had to make way to PPBM – the youngest member of the Pakatan pact – to contest in Padang Besar and Arau, while PKR retained its right to contest in Kangar.
As a result, the parties have had to renegotiate their state seat allocations to avert conflict.
Perlis PKR deputy chairman Chan Ming Kai acknowledged that Pakatan components have yet to finalise talks on state seat allocations, but was confident that negotiations would be concluded by this week.
"We have completed the distribution of 70 per cent (of the total of 15 states seats); and only four state seats are left to be finalised, namely Pauh, Simpang Empat, Tambun Tulang and Sena.
"(Negotiations) were supposed to be completed by the end of last month, but we had to review the arrangements following the central leadership’s decision on Parliamentary seat allocation," he said.
Chan, who is also Indera Kayangan assemblyman, said that for now, Pakatan components have agreed that PKR will contest three state seats; PAN, four seats; PPBM, three seats; and DAP, a single seat."PKR will field candidates for Kuala Perlis, Indera Kayangan and Chuping.
PAN will contest in Santan, Beseri, Sanglang and Bintong; while PPBM will (fight for) Mata Ayer, Kayang and Guar Sanji.
“ DAP will be contesting in Titi Tinggi," he added.
Perlis has 15 state seats, with BN holding 13 seats, and the remaining two controlled by PKR in Indera Kayangan and Pas in Sanglang.
Meanwhile, in Seremban, Negri Sembilan PPBM chief Baharuddin Ahmad said the party is adamant that it wants to contest four more state seats in GE14.
“The seats - Paroi, Ampangan, Labu and Linggi - have been allocated for PKR and PAN. This is frustrating as the decision has even been objected by the locals," he said.
"We had previously approached the local community and based on their feedback, they had expressed their objections towards PKR and PAN candidates. They made it clear that they would only support PPBM candidates to represent them," he said.
The PH convention held here on Jan 28 ended in chaos after PPBM grassroots members expressed dissatisfaction with the state seats allocation distributed by the top leadership which saw the distribution of 36 state seats, namely PKR's 12, DAP (11), PA (7) and PPBM (6).
As for Parliament seats, two seats are allocated for each party.
Baharudin said the party's leadership has yet to offer any opportunities for negotiation and had made the decision without the knowledge of the party members.
Meanwhile state PPBM Youth chief Mohd Shahrul Anuar Abu Samah said the state PPBM would meet the Registrar of Societies (ROS) next week to seek clarification on allegations that the party's annual general assembly (AGM) was held without adhering to its constitution.
"If the clarification finds that this is due to the weakness of party's management, then we want the PPBM top leadership to be held responsible and resolve it as soon as possible," he said.
It was reported that a total of 249 complaints had been filed by PPBM members, who claimed that the party had breached its own constitution.
Additional Reporting by NUR AQIDAH AZIZI