SHAH ALAM: PKR should be allowed to field candidates in all the 21 state seats it contested in the last general election (GE13) if the opposition pact wants to retain Selangor in GE14.
Selangor PKR communications bureau chief Hizwan Ahmad said Pakatan Harapan component parties have each expressed their interest to contest in selected seats in the state for the upcoming elections.
He stressed that PKR has a strong base in Selangor, which Pakatan Harapan’s top leadership should take into consideration in finalising the seat allocations.
“PKR has proven its capability in leading the state administration. This has also been proven via surveys and studies on the ground.
“In order to minimise the risk of losing in GE14 and to ensure Selangor remains under Pakatan Harapan, PKR should be allowed to contest in the all the seats requested.
“We strongly believe PKR has a better chance of winning in Selangor. We are looking at it from a winnability angle,” he told the NSTP today.
Hizwan further said Pakatan Harapan component parties should first prove their strong following in Selangor before showing interest to contest in PKR-requested seats.
“If they are able to do so, we are open for discussion since the opposition pact has yet to reach full consensus on state seat allocations.
“Negotiations are ongoing and we are confident that Pakatan Harapan component parties will be satisfied with the final outcome,” he added.
PKR appears to be at loggerhead with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), determine to contest in seats PKR lost to Umno in Selangor in GE13.
However, PKR leaders were not willing to give up the seats.
PKR won 14 out of the 21 seats it contested in GE13. But the number was reduced to 13 when former Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (who won the Port Klang state seat), was sacked by PKR in 2014.
PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar had on Feb 4 said the party was confident of winning some of the seats it lost to Umno in GE13.
He had said PKR should be given priority to contest most number of seats since PKR is leading the state government and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also holds the party’s deputy president post.