SHAH ALAM: Selangor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) will seek Pakatan Harapan presidential council’s intervention should state opposition leaders fail to reach a consensus over seat allocations in the state.
Selangor PPBM chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari said the opposition pact was still in the midst of negotiating state seats and had yet to make the necessary compromises among component parties on overlapping seat demands.
“We (Pakatan Harapan component parties) have to really get down to business and discuss this (to ensure all parties are pleased with the number of seats allocated).
“I had personally met with Selangor Menteri Besar and Pakatan Harapan vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali on Jan 29 and we had discussed at length over matters pertaining PPBM state seat allocations, as well as other parties.
“I look forward to meeting him again sometime next week in the hope of reaching an understanding and put this issue to rest.
“However, we have no choice, but to take this matter to the Pakatan Harapan presidential council if (Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president) fails to address the problem,” he said when contacted today.
Selangor PPBM had demanded to contest in all 12 state seats currently being held by Umno, as well as an additional three seats held by Pas.
Earlier this month, Selangor PPBM information chief Sallehudin Amiruddin voiced his disagreement with the seat-sharing arrangement among component parties in the opposition pact.
He had stressed that PPBM would not accept anything less than the requested 12 state seats belonging to Umno.
Meanwhile, Selangor DAP central committee member Ronnie Liu said he was confident that the special committee formed by Pakatan Harapan will put an end to the conflict between component parties.
He said with the general election drawing near, the pact should put aside their differences and reach an amicable solution over state seat allocations.
“I believe that the seat allocation for Selangor can be resolved by the special committee empowered by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.
“There is no more time to be wasted at the state level since the general election is around the corner,”.
Selangor DAP vice-chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim said the slow progress in negotiating state seat was nothing to be worried about, nor was something new in the political scene.
He said Pakatan Harapan component parties had each requested for certain number of seats, in which an agreement will be reached upon further discussions.
“Regardless of the tussle between component parties, I believe they will adhere to whatever decision made by Pakatan Harapan’s top leadership.
“PPBM rejection of the state Pakatan Harapan state seat negotiations was merely an act to demonstrate power or authority. It is nothing new since it came from PPBM,” he added.
Yesterday, Azmin expressed confidence that the issue concerning state seat allocations will be resolved.
Azmin said he had personally met with Parti Amanah Negara strategy director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday to discuss and seek solutions to the issues raised.
He further said there was still time to finalise state seats since the date of GE14 has not been decided.