Pakatan eyeing magical 112 seats or more

DAP also says that Pakatan can cause 'phenomenal political revolution' in Johor.

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat can exceed the magical number of 112 parliamentary seats to capture the federal government if the coalition can win at least 33 of the 83 federal seats up for grabs in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang acknowledged that these three states held the keys to Putrajaya.

Lim said he decided to leave his safe seat in Ipoh Timur to contest in Gelang Patah, Johor, in 13th general election to convert these three Barisan Nasional ‘fixed deposits’ into Pakatan’s loyal voters.

He also said that Pakatan could possibly win by a 28-seat majority to form the next federal government.

A total of 222 parliament seats are up for grabs. A simple majority of 112 seats is sufficient to form the federal government.

“We’re aiming to win the 25 parliamentary seats which BN won with less than a 55% popular votes in previous polls,” Lim said.

Among the seats targeted by Pakatan are Arau (Perlis), Alor Star (Kedah), Kuala Nerus (Terengganu), Larut, Kuala Kangsar, Kampar and Lumut (Perak), Bentong, Raub and Jerantut (Pahang), Sabak Bernam and Pandan (Selangor), Rembau (Negeri Sembilan) and Bukit Katil (Malacca).

“Pakatan can win with a good and comfortable majority,” said Lim, who was once Kota Melaka, Sri Petaling and Tanjung MP.Lim’s calculation is based on DAP and PAS winning 40 parliamentary seats each, and PKR 45 seats this time.

Pakatan targets big in Johor

Lim was speaking at a press conference at Wisma DAP here today. Also present were DAP secretary general and Lim’s son Guan Eng, state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow and his deputy P Ramasamy, secretary Ng Wei Aik and other state party leaders.

In the last general election in 2008, BN won 140 seats against Pakatan’s 82 to retain the federal government despite a massive swing among voters against BN in the Peninsular.

Unlike other capital cities and urban areas, Johor Baru was the only state capital that managed to maintain Umno and BN dominance in 2008.

The senior Lim, who will contest the Gelang Patah seat this time, revealed Pakatan targeted to win 19 parliamentary and 30 state seats in Johor.

He said Pakatan was aiming to wrest control of Johor Baru, Pasir Gudang, Tebrau, Gelang Patah, Kulai, Pulai, Tanjong Piai, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Bakri, Labis, Segamat, Sekijang, Ledang, Muar, Ayer Hitam, Sri Gading, Simpang Rengam and Sembrong federal seats.

Among the targeted state seats are Stulang, Tanjong Puteri, Johor Jaya, Permas, Puteri Wangsa, Tiram, Skudai, Nusajaya, Pengkalan Rinting, Kempas, Senai, Bukit Batu, Bukit Permai, Pekan Nenas, Mengkibol, Penggaram, Layang-Layang, Parit Yaani, Maharani, Gambir, Tenang and Pemanis.

According to Lim if Pakatan can win 50% of the seats it is contesting, it would be a “phenomenal political revolution” in Johor.

“But, we are expecting to score more than 50% success for Pakatan in Johor in the election,” he said.

DAP against PSM’s Sarasvathy

Meanwhile, Guan Eng confirmed that the party would field a candidate in Jelapang state seat in Perak, despite Pakatan-friendly party PSM requesting the seat to contest.

He noted that PSM’s candidate M Sarasvathy lost her deposit in Jelapang, won by then DAP candidate Hee Yit Foong, in 2008 election.

However, Guan Eng said the DAP would fully back PSM national chairman and Kota Damansara incumbent assemblyman Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim in his election duel with BN in Selangor.