DAP to PKR: Stick to 2013 seats for next GE

Chong speaking to reporters. Also seen is Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.

KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has proposed that PKR adhere to 2013 seat arrangements during the next parliamentary election due by 2018.

Its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, said DAP would hold fast to the 11 seats contested three years ago and called on PKR to follow suit to avert a repeat of the overlapping seat claims during the state polls.

“We will stick to the arrangements in 2013 whereby there were no overlapping seats Let us not spend more time on negotiations but put our efforts into preparations,” he told a news conference yesterday.

In 2013, DAP retained Bandar Kuching and Sibu as well as won Stampin, Lanang and Sarikei.

It lost seven other parliamentary seats contested – Mas Gading, Serian, Mukah, Kapit, Bintulu and Lawas.

PKR contested in 15 seats but only won Miri, losing to Barisan Nasional (BN) in Santubong, Petra Jaya, Mambong (now Puncak Borneo), Batang Lupar, Sri Aman, Lubok Antu, Betong, Saratok, Julau, Kanowit, Selangau, Hulu Rajang, Baram and Limbang.

Chong said there have been discussions at national level and hoped the state PKR would accept the status quo given that both opposition parties had “a lot of catching up to do”.

He called the terms “reasonable”, pointing out that negotiations between the two parties were not fruitful and relationships, particularly at grassroots level, had gone sour.

“Negotiations do not do both parties any good. Our past experiences of negotiations have shown that only at the last moment did both parties conclude, which kept our candidates hanging there whether to stand or not.

“Let us stick to the arrangements we had in 2013 for the 14th GE in 2018.As for the next state election in 2021, let’s stick to the arrangement we had,” he said.

On the six overlapping seats for the state election, Chong said in future DAP should get Batu Kitang, Mambong and Simanggang, while PKR could have Ngemah, Murum and Mulu.

He opined that there was no need for arguments based on the election results.

“Let’s go by the results from the head-on collisions. DAP garnered more votes in Batu Kitang, Mambong and Simanggang, while PKR had more votes than DAP in Ngemah, Murum and Mulu.

“I cannot think of any other arrangements whereby it will not engage any prolonged negotiations or arguments. This is the only way to counter BN. Let’s stick to the proposal and start work now,” he said.

Chong pointed out that DAP candidates for Simanggang, Pakan, Ngemah, Pelagus, Baleh, Murum and Mulu lost their deposits, while PKR suffered the same fate in 10 seats namely Tanjong Datu, Batu Kitang, Balai Ringin, Simanggang, Engkilili, Ngemah, Dalat, Tellian, Tamin and Belaga.

“There are three areas where DAP obtained less than 25 per cent of the total votes cast – Stakan (16.8 per cent), Kedup (24.6 per cent) and Kemena (23 per cent),” he said.

He also listed the 18 seats where PKR had less than 25 per cent of votes cast – Opar (21.1 per cent), Tupong (20.9 per cent), Satok (20.9 per cent), Serembu (17.8 per cent), Tebedu (13.6 per cent), Lingga (19.7 per cent), Bukit Begunan (13.3 per cent), Saribas (20.4 per cent), Bukit Saban (14.3 per cent), Kalaka (22.4 per cent), Meluan (22.3 per cent), Machan (18.3 per cent), Nangka (16.1 per cent), Kakus (19.7 per cent), Murum (17.6 per cent), Jepak (23.2 per cent), Bekenu (14.6 per cent) and Lambir (23.8 per cent).

He also said that DAP had gained a foothold in the state seats of Tasik Biru, Katibas, Bukit Goram and Samalaju.

 

 

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