DAP: PKR pushed for popularity poll but disregarded results

KUALA LUMPUR: A survey to gauge the degree of popularity between DAP and PKR in the run-up to the Sarawak election was mooted by the latter but disregarded when findings showed the former was more popular in many areas.

Going on the defensive in their current spat with PKR in regard to overlapping seats in the state election, Anthony Loke, Tony Pua and Ong Kian Ming of DAP held a joint press conference today, in which the trio cited a survey by the Merdeka Center that revealed their party was more popular among Dayak and Chinese voters than PKR.

The survey was used to back up DAP’s claims for seats also eyed by PKR, during negotiations on Batu Kitang, Senadin, Simanggang, Tasik Biru, Mambong and Bukit Semuja.

According to the survey, DAP was popular in all the areas except for Mambong where PKR enjoyed greater popularity.

Loke said that DAP however offered a “package deal” to PKR despite survey results favouring their party and subsequently seeded Batu Kitang, Marudi and Machan to its ally.

Loke, who is DAP’s national organising secretary, argued that since it was PKR vice-president Tian Chua who suggested such a survey be conducted, it was therefore necessary for his party to abide by the findings.

Also stressing that the survey was PKR’s idea, was Pua who claimed DAP was never keen on conducting the poll. He also argued that the money spent on the poll could have been channelled for others uses such as campaigning in the Sarawak election.

“I asked, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? And you will abide by it?’

“They said, ‘Don’t worry, we will abide by our word’,” DAP’s publicity secretary said about PKR’s assurance that the survey findings would be respected.

Ong meanwhile asserted that DAP was not being greedy when it decided to contest in the same seats as PKR.

“We wanted to focus on Simanggang because we were popular as the survey showed.”

The joint press conference was held following the announcement that both DAP and PKR were vying for six seats, namely Batu Kitang, Mulu, Simanggang, Mambong, Murum and Ngemah.

Following the nominations, both DAP and PKR have clashed intensely over the matter.

Loke also claimed DAP was willing to stand down in Batu Kitang provided PKR withdrew its five candidates from the contentious seats which it has refused to do.

The Seremban lawmaker however has said it was now “too late” and that it was best for both parties to “just move forward.”

Mukah Pages bring you trending news media with Free Malaysia Today http://ift.tt/1SLb3Lu