We did our best to negotiate with DAP, says PKR

S'WAK POLLS The window for negotiations with DAP on disputed seats in the Sarawak election was open until the last day before nomination day today, PKR Sarawak chairperson Baru Bian said.

“We had also put forward the proposals to resolve our disputes. Unfortunately, we did not hear anything from DAP until midnight yesterday,” Baru added in a statement.

He also revealed that the decision by PKR to nominate its candidates was made collectively, by both the state and national leaders.

“The seats that we are contesting are places that we have been working hard for years.

“Pakatan Harapan has, through the negotiation process, agreed on seat allocations for 95 percent of the total seats, and there were only five percent of the seats where we were not able to reach consensus.

“Such an achievement is indeed incredible as the negotiations had not been easy,” he said.

Bigger fight

As an ally in the opposition coalition, Baru argued, PKR has done its best.

“On April 22, when we presented the appointment letters to our candidates, which was three days before the nomination day, we only presented the appointment letters to 35 candidates excluding seats where there were overlapping claims, because PKR respects the on-going negotiation process,” he said.

Baru noted that the common foe of the opposition parties is BN, and hoped that differences could be put aside to focus on the bigger fight.

“We hope that we can turn our fire on BN and strive for support of the people,” he added.

Baru also pointed out that PKR is contesting in lesser number of seats this time around as the party only selected candidates who had put in real efforts in their constituencies.

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng expressed disappointment with PKR’s decision, and accused the PKR of shortchanging his party.

The two parties are clashing in at least five seats that PKR has moved in - Batu Kitang, Mambong, Ngemah, Simanggang and Murum.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had approved the multi-cornered fights.

In retaliation, DAP is fielding Abdul Aziz Isa in Batu Kitang, making the two Harapan coalition parties to battle each other, besides the BN, in six seats. -Mkini