KUALA LUMPUR: The tussle for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary between Dap and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) looks far from being settled anytime soon.
PAN’s secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir said the party was still confident that it will get the seat, eventhough both parties stand an equal chance of getting the parliamentary seat.
He said which party will be able to put its candidate in the seat was yet to be finalised as negotiations between both parties which are part of Pakatan Harapan (PH) is still ongoing.
“We are confident that we will be able to contest the seat even though it is still 50:50,” he said today.
PH in its Parliamentary seat distribution meeting last month for Peninsula Malaysia decided that DAP will contest in 35 seats including Ayer Hitam, whereas PAN will contest in 27 seats.
However, a few days later, on Jan 12, the DAP announced that the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat in Johor would be contested by PAN candidates in GE-14.
However later DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke made a u-turn and staked a claim on the seat.
The Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat which has a 57.9 Malay voters has been traditionally cointested by PAS.
The current incumbent is Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. The MCA Deputy President and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department had held the seat for the last three terms.
In the 13th general election, PAS’ non-malay candidate Hu Pang Chaw received14,735 votes compared to Wee who garnered 22,045 votes.
Meanwhile, on PH’s state seat distribution, Anuar said 80 per cent had been settled as of now and it is expected to be finalised next week.
"The deadline was supposed to tomorrow but had to be postponed following the ill health of PH Chairman (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad). Insya Allah next week it will be completed,” he said.