KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PKR may give up some of its usual contested seats in Sabah to Sabah-based opposition parties in the coming 13th general election.
The PKR de facto leader said this was to ensure straight fights in all Sabah seats and enable the opposition to weaken the Barisan Nasional's claim of the State being a "fixed deposit".
PKR and Sabah's key opposition party SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party), led by former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee, went on a collision course during the Batu Sapi by-election 2010, turning the fight into a three-way contest against BN.
This resulted in the opposition vote being split and enabling BN's PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) political novice Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin to win.
However, the peninsula-based PKR does not want to repeat the mistake.
“We (PKR) agree to surrender some of the seats we contested in the previous polls to make way for Sabah's opposition parties, especially SAPP.
“We are also in negotiation with several local political leaders for the same purpose of ensuring one-to-one fights," Anwar said after an economic forum in Tanjung Aru.
“However, we do hope that Sabah's opposition would also support PR's struggle and not practise State-level politics.
“I myself have observed that the political trend here is more towards Sabah-based politics.
“To PR, what is important is the struggle for the people regardless of race, religion and background."
For the local opposition parties, namely SAPP and State Reform Party (Star), led by Yong and Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan respectively, consensus is only possible if they are allowed to contest the lion's share of the 60 State seats up for grabs in Sabah.
“But for the peninsula-based PR, largely DAP, all parties should first commit to the federal opposition pact before facing BN.
For SAPP, the formula is - PR contests two-thirds of Sabah's 25 parliamentary seats while SAPP snaps up two-thirds of the state seats.
This, they said, is a win-win formula that would enable all parties to achieve their goals.
Federal seats in Sabah and Sarawak are expected to be BN's focal point come the elections as both states, including the Federal Territory of Labuan, make up a hopping 57 seats, or 25 per cent of the 222 parliamentary seats available.
In 2008, BN lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority largely due to significant losses in the peninsula, where it won just 85 seats while the opposition swept 80 seats.
BN’s saving grace was in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan where the pact trounced the opposition and made a near-clean sweep, winning 55 parliamentary seats to the opposition’s two.
Following numerious MP deaths and defections, BN now holds 138 parliamentary seats while opposition parties, including PR’s PKR, PAS and DAP, PSM, SAPP and independents, hold 84.
Daily Express
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Page 1-2
Kerjasama antara PKR dan SAPP akan lebih kuat sekiranya parti2 yang lain sanggup bergabung.
ReplyDeletePerhaps PKR is feeling inconfident that they can win in some areas such as Keningau and Kota Belud where thousands of Pakatan Sabah members left to join Star, therefore they prefer SAPP to take the bait.
ReplyDeleteMake sure the straight fight don't turn into another 3 cornered fight or 4 cornered fight when the time comes to contest, like the Batu Sapi By-elections.
ReplyDeleteCakap saja tu, Anwar memang banyak muslihat
ReplyDeletekenapa parti lain tak turut bekerjsama?
ReplyDeleteSukar untuk bekerjasama jika mereka masing-masing ada perjuangan yang berlainan.
DeleteIni ada makna sebenarnya apa yang PKR buat ini. Ini semua kerana PKR takut akan tewas apabila bertanding lebih dari 1.
ReplyDeletenanti dekat2 pilihanraya umum baru nampak wajah sebenar mereka.. bukan senang mereka buat keputusan seperti itu..
Deleteboleh trust ka dengan pendirian PKR ni?? bagaimana pula dengan DAP dan PAS?? adakah mereka bersetuju??
ReplyDeletekalau betulah PKR sanggup membiarkan SAPP bertanding satu lawan satu dengan BN, kenapa bukan ketika PRK Batu Sapi??
ReplyDeleteIt won't have any use, even if PKR is willing to give way to SAPP or other Sabahan parties, DAP will never agree to give cooperation.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, PKR is sincere to work with SAPP but SAPP stab PKR in the back by telling Sabahans to reject them.
ReplyDelete