Opposition free-for-all

by Jacob Achoi. Posted on March 25, 2011, Friday

ADDRESSING MEDIA: Chong (right), joined by Sarawak DAP treasurer Violet Yong, speaking to reporters in Kuching yesterday.

KUCHING: The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) seems to be in disarray, with a free-for-all expected during the April 16 polls, as the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) clash over seats.The two opposition parties failed to reach a consensus on seats during a negotiation meeting yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, which lasted for about an hour.

At the 2pm meeting, DAP was represented by state chairman Richard Wong Ho Leng and election bureau Tan Kok Wai, while PKR was represented by deputy president Azmin Ali.

State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen related the outcome of the meeting during a press conference at the DAP headquarters here. “I am entrusted to tell you about the sad news in that the meeting for a seat negotiation has broken down,” he said. As a result of the meeting, Chong said DAP was standing firm with the decision to contest in 18 seats. The seats are Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Batu Kawah, Kota Sentosa, Simanggang, Balai Ringin, Bukit Assek, Pelawan, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Repok, Meradong, Kidurong, Senadin, Piasau, Pujut and Bukit Kota. He blamed “PKR’s insincerity” for the failed final round of negotiations.

“In a last attempt to keep both parties together and in the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat, DAP had agreed to give way for PKR to contest in Padungan and Senadin.”

However, he said, PKR still demanded to contest in Balai Ringin, Batu Kawah and Dudong, which was the final straw for DAP.

“We give an inch; and they want a foot. Our goodwill was not reciprocated, and that gives us no other choice but to stick to the initial 18 seats,” said Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP.

He dismissed the possibility of eleventh hour negotiations as he said “there is no point talking and talking”.

Chong, who is widely tipped to defend his Kota Sentosa seat, said the allocation was actually determined by PKR’s central committee and not the party’s state committee as had been assured earlier by PKR’s top leadership.

On whether DAP would discuss seat allocation with the Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Chong replied: “Whether we discuss or not, we will stick to the 18 seats.” He stressed there was no logic for PKR to demand the Batu Kawah seat as statistics showed DAP obtained 34 per cent voter support during the last parliamentary election while PKR only had a mere four per cent. Chong added that DAP’s list of candidates would be announced soon.