Seat talks: PKR hunkers down in the west, limits claim in the east

 

PKR is expected to contest 59 seats in the upcoming state elections.

The party will be launching its machinery in the seats simultaneously at 8.30pm tonight for Kelantan and Terengganu, tomorrow for Kedah and Penang, and on Sunday for Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Based on the arrangement of the events, it appears that PKR will be fielding seven candidates in Kelantan, three in Terengganu, 10 in Kedah, 13 in Penang, six in Negeri Sembilan, and 20 in Selangor.

In Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Penang, the planned seat allocations indicate that PKR’s main focus is on defending the seats it has won rather than winning more seats.

Selangor

For Selangor, PKR will be defending 20 of the seats it won in 2018 - including Bukit Antarabangsa and Gombak Setia, whose incumbents defected during the 2020 Sheraton Move.

Curiously, the list indicated that PKR might be giving up the Kota Damansara seat that it won.

PKR will also not contest in Sungai Air Tawar this election, a seat which BN had won in the previous state polls.

Negeri Sembilan

Over in Negeri Sembilan, PKR appears to only be contesting in the six seats it won in 2018.

It will be making way for the other six seats it previously contested but were won by BN, including Sungai Lui, Kota, and Gemas.

Penang

In Penang, PKR is also defending 13 of the seats it won in 2018 - including Seberang Jaya - whose incumbent defected to Bersatu in 2020.

However, PKR appears to be giving way in Sungai Acheh - a seat it won in 2018 but whose incumbent also defected to Bersatu in 2020.

Kedah

Over in Kedah, PKR is defending seven of the seats it won in 2018, as well as having another go at the Bukit Pinang constituency.

It is also expected to contest in Kuah and Jitra - Mukhriz Mahathir’s incumbent seat - which Bersatu previously won as part of Harapan in the last state polls.

Meanwhile, PKR is making way in Pedu and Kuala Ketil - seats won by PAS in 2018 where BN came in second place, and PKR last.

Kelantan, Terengganu

PKR’s expected move to give up seats it contested but came in behind BN is more apparent in Kelantan and Terengganu.

PKR does not appear to be contesting in any of the 19 seats it previously contested in Kelantan (eight) and Terengganu (11).

These are seats that BN either won or had more votes than PKR in 2018.

PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

Kelantan and Terengganu PKR chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said last month that BN would be given priority for seats in the two states.

However, PKR will still be contesting on the East Coast during the state polls and appears set to primarily contest in seats that were previously allocated to Amanah.

These are Panchor, Chetok, Pasir Tumboh, Limbongan, and Mengkebang in Kelantan, and Wakaf Mempelam, Manir, and Sura in Terengganu.

PKR is also expected to contest in two Kelantan seats previously contested by Bersatu, namely Pasir Pekan and Kota Lama.

PKR deputy election director Tan Kar Hing

When contacted, PKR deputy election director Tan Kar Hing said the party’s seat allocations were a strategic choice to play to its strengths.

“After considering various factors, this is the most suitable formula for each party (in the coalition government) to contest in its strongest seats as a coalition,” the Gopeng MP told Malaysiakini. - Mkini