Muda accuses PKR of ending talks, prepared to go without pact

JOHOR POLLS | Upstarts Muda today accused PKR of "terminating" electoral pact negotiations by prematurely announcing its candidates for the upcoming Johor legislative assembly election.

In a statement, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (above) said the party leadership will decide on the way forward this weekend.

"If there are any clashes between Muda and PKR which cannot be avoided, Muda will leave the decision to the Johor people," he said.

Last month, Pakatan Harapan designed a seat-sharing formula that saw PKR and Amanah being allocated 20 seats each and 16 seats for DAP.

The Harapan leadership also decided that each component party would be allowed to forge an electoral pact with Muda only.

While Amanah and DAP had swiftly concluded talks with Muda, PKR has gone on to announce the names of 13 candidates.

However, Syed Saddiq's statement accused PKR of announcing all 20 candidates, thereby "terminating" negotiations for a pact.

Previously, Muda had stated its intention of fielding 10 candidates. There are 56 seats in the Johor legislative assembly.

Although there are eight days to go before nomination, the possibility of a pact between PKR and Muda remains unlikely.

Four days ago, Johor PKR chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said several rounds of negotiations with Muda were unsuccessful.

During the 2018 general election, PKR won five state seats in Johor. Muda will be making its electoral debut during the upcoming polls. - Mkini