Perkasa: Boon for PKR, Bersatu stuck with 'Grade C' seats

Although Pakatan Harapan has allocated the lion's share of the parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia to Bersatu, it is PKR which is the biggest winner, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said today.

Ibrahim, a former Pasir Mas MP for three terms, believes PKR stands a good chance of winning the seats it was allocated, while Bersatu will struggle with what he termed "Grade C" seats.

"I find that the biggest winner in Harapan's seat allocation is PKR... because I find that the seats contested by PKR are in line with current developments and there is a good chance of them winning in terms of the demography and distribution of its voters.

"Bersatu has got 52 seats which is one more than PKR. For a new party to be allocated 52 seats, that's quite good. Unfortunately, when I look at Bersatu's seats, I find that these are 'Grade C' seats.

"It means that these are seats that they could contest but it won't easy, because the incumbents are heavyweights in the BN leadership," he told a press conference at Perkasa's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Harapan had concluded their seat negotiations for parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia on Saturday last week, and announced it at their convention the following day.

Under the deal, Bersatu would contest in 52 seats, followed by PKR (51), DAP (35) and Amanah (27).

Ibrahim also said that there is no point in Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad becoming an interim prime minister.

If Harapan carries out its plan to seek royal pardon for its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim after becoming the federal government, and thereafter install Anwar as prime minister, this would mean Mahathir would only be office for up to 12 months.

“I respect Mahathir. I don’t care if he is qualified or not, but I question the basis. Mahathir has talked about Harapan’s goals such as abolishing GST and eradicating corruption, but what can he do in six to 12 months?

“If you want to change policy you’d have to go to parliament, and the parliamentary process would take months,” he said.

During its convention on Sunday, Harapan had announced Mahathir and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the coalition’s choice for prime minister and deputy prime minister, respectively.

Under Mahathir’s leadership, the coalition said, a royal pardon for Anwar would be sought before he is installed as the eighth prime minister.

Anwar is currently serving a jail sentence for sodomy, and is expected to be realised early in June this year. However, he would not be eligible to contest in any election for another five years.

-Mkini