DAP will contest Batu Kitang if PKR fields candidates against it

S'WAK POLLS DAP announced today that it will contest the urban-based Batu Kitang state seat in the May 7 election should PKR proceed with fielding candidates in rural seats DAP is contesting.

"Since PKR is not honouring its agreement, we may go for Batu Kitang," said DAP state leader Chong Chieng Jen.

"I have received a lot of pressure and requests from party members that if PKR is not honoring its agreement, then why should we stick to our end of the deal," Chong told reporters in Kuching today.

State PKR chief Baru Bian said on Friday that it may clash with DAP in five seats. DAP has said it would hold on to an agreement with PKR's national leadership last week, which precluded any clashes with PKR.

The agreement was signed by DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Chong said that according to paid surveys carried out by Merdeka Center on six seats, DAP received better ratings than PKR.

"We've been working Batu Kitang for years. It is carved out of Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawah," said Chong, who was Kota Sentosa assemblyman before the state assembly was dissolved.

In survey results, made available to reporters today, DAP showed a 60 percent favourable rating in Batu Kitang compared to PKR's eight percent. Chong said PKR had insisted on the surveys.

"Baru Bian openly said that he would veto the agreement between two parties. He would not recognise it. He said Azmin does not have the power to (enforce) it on the state's behalf. He said there are overlapping seats. Aren't those indication enough that he would breach the agreement between Azmin Ali and Lim Guan Eng. Isn't that sufficient evidence?

"Do we have to wait until day to see if the agreement is broken. Are we going to be sitting ducks?

Asked to comment if Baru may be pressured by PKR's grassroots leaders, Chong said: "I don't know their internal politics. But they are the ones who burnt the bridge."

'Black and white'

Asked if the two components could work together after the election, Chong replied: "If somebody can, even after signing something, turn back against their word, it's quite difficult to work with a person like that right, who cannot keep their word, even it is in black and white."

In announcing the its 35 candidates on Friday, Baru said PKR would not drop the possibility to contest an additional five seats, which may clash with DAP.

"All seats are important to us. We have a key performance indicator system. And based on that system, we get reports from the ground. That's why we are pursuing the matter," he said.

DAP's favoured candidate for Batu Kitang before it was relegated to PKR's Voon Shiak Ni was Abdul Aziz Isa. Abdul Aziz, who is the current candidate for Stakan, is the grandnephew of Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud. -Mkini