When Upko announced it was exiting Pakatan Harapan, questions arose on what would happen to the five seats allocated for the party, and whether others in the coalition would swoop in to claim them.
Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud did not respond to initial inquiries from Malaysiakini on Tuesday - the day after Upko announced its departure. However, he inadvertently revealed the party's interests yesterday.
Speaking to FMT, Mustapha objected to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) decision to contest in Kadamaian and Moyog.
He is cited as saying those seats were originally allocated to Upko, and that GRS should have consulted Sabah Harapan before making a decision.
Mustapha also objected to BN naming a candidate in Karamunting, where PKR has already named GRS defector and current incumbent George Hiew as its candidate.
“They should not have announced those three candidates. To me, this should have been discussed beforehand. What we have announced followed negotiations with both BN and GRS.
“I think we need to have further discussions (with BN and GRS) after this. We hope we can reach a resolution before nominations (on Saturday). Otherwise, there will be implications,” he was quoted as saying.
Clash in some seats
GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor had said almost two weeks ago that the coalition might clash with Harapan in some seats.
Though the seats were not specified then, the list unveiled by GRS yesterday indicates that it was Kadamaian and Moyog - both seats in the Penampang parliament constituency. Upko president Ewon Benedick is the Penampang MP.
This likely meant that the matter had already been brought up during seat negotiations with Harapan prior to Upko's exit.
PKR, despite only winning two out of the seven seats it contested in the last Sabah election in 2020, is pushing for an expansion.
It has already named 10 candidates, and Upko's seats - now up for grabs by Harapan - are an avenue for it to plant even more flags in Sabah.
‘We wish Upko the best’
Sabah DAP was more reserved on the matter of whether Harapan parties would take Upko's seats.
"We have announced our candidates, and it’s finalised. We wish Upko the best," Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Amanah - which is also looking for more seats to contest, may also want to lay claim to Upko's seats.
The party's election director, Sany Hamzan, did not respond for comment when contacted.
Upko has yet to announce how many candidates it will field in the election, but it is expected to clash with Harapan.
Upko had pulled out of the coalition over concerns that the government might appeal the High Court ruling affirming Sabah's right to 40 percent of federal revenue collected from the state.
It also expressed grievances with PKR undermining its authority to lead Harapan in Sabah - including by taking over seat negotiations with the coalition's partners.
Jeffrey Kitingan's Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) has since expressed interest in cooperating with Upko.
Nomination day is this Saturday. - Mkini
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