Source: Some Umno leaders disagree on giving Kedah, Terengganu to PAS

Umno and PAS have yet to finalise their seats distribution for the 15th general election although both parties have in principle agreed to a mechanism to do so, according to an Umno source.

The source involved in the negotiations said there were several matters that leaders from both parties had yet to agree on including seat allocations in Terengganu and Kelantan for which objections were received.

"There are Umno leaders who still disagree if Kedah and Terengganu are entirely handed over to PAS.

"This is because they have the view that the party still has strength in these two states and their GE14 losses were due to three-cornered fights," the source told Malaysiakini.

The source cited as an example 10 seats in Kedah which could have been won by BN, as opposed to by PAS, had it not been for their votes being split by Bersatu and Amanah candidates.

Umno and PAS through their Muafakat Nasional partnership are currently in discussions to prepare for GE15, speculated to be held by as early as the end of this year.

This includes setting-up of state Muafakat Nasional committees to coordinate movements on the ground and in each parliament constituency as well as preparing their election machinery.

Aside from seat distributions between Umno and PAS, also in the spotlight is the distribution ratio between Umno and Bersatu. All three parties share a similar support base in majority Malay-Muslim areas.

The source, however, said both Umno and PAS leaders have expressed confidence that their seat allocation issue would be resolved in the family spirit.

"Based on a family spirit and taking into consideration Umno's strength, seat distributions in Terengganu and Kedah must be done in a harmonious manner based on individual party's strength and support," said the source.

"Aside from that, we also need to take into consideration our friend in Bersatu, as we are together in PN," the source added.

Since the Muafakat Nasional pact was signed last September, BN has won six by-elections namely Cameron Highlands, Semenyih, Rantau, Tanjung Piai, Kimanis and the most recently, Chini. - Mkini