Azmin: No three-cornered fights for Pakatan in GE13

In the coming election Pakatan Rakyat is likely to repeat its 2008 success formula, where component parties contested one-to-one with BN, securing victory in five states.

PKR deputy chief Azmin Ali said that PKR has concluded its seat negotiations with DAP and PAS, and Parliament and state seats candidates have also been identified.

He said there are several seats that need further discussions, but he was confident that these could be resolved.

He added that the details of the seat allocation will be announced by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim very soon, but declined to say if there were any surprises in the line-up this time.

"What we are certain is that the discussions are done," Azmin told reporters when asked if there were any changes to the number of seats PKR would be contesting in Penang.

Informal talks with Hindraf

In 2008, PKR contested four parliamentary and 16 state seats in Penang and won four and nine respectively.

When asked whether there would be three-cornered fights that may threaten the coalition’s wining chances, Azmin replied with a firm, "No."

On whether Pakatan Rakyat had met with the Human Rights Party (HRP) to discuss about the coming election, Azmin said that "informal talks" were already underway.

HRP, the political wing of Hindu rights pressure group Hindraf, has made its intentions clear to Pakatan that it is vying for seven parliamentary and 14 state seats.

"It has not been discussed at national level yet. We need to engage with them and see how to accommodate them so that we can ensure a one-to-one fight," Azmin said.

Azmin, who is Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson, was in Penang to hand over election materials to the PKR state team, who will distribute them according to the four parliamentary and 16 state seats currently held by the party.

This is the second leg of Azmin's journey after hitting Perak, and from which the PKR leader will go south to Johor to do the same.

‘We are ready’

PKR has prepared 13 million election leaflets and huge numbers of party flags, banners, T-shirts and caps, Azmin said.

"We are doing this to send a clear message to Prime Minister Najib Razak that we are prepared for the 13th GE. We are ready," he said.

When asked to speculate on the date for the polls, Azmin told reporters to ask the PM.

When asked to comment on the recent mega-gathering by Umno members in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Azmin challenged Najib to call for elections now if he felt that the party was strong enough.

"Why the delay tactic? This shows they are not ready and that they need more time to gather the trust and confidence especially from the civil servants and the rakyat," he said.