Spanner in the works for S'wak Pakatan meet
Andrew OngPublished: Mar 4, 2011 1:32 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2011 8:19 AM
The Sarawak chapter of Pakatan Rakyat appears to be at odds over whether or not to convene a formal delegates meeting ahead of the state elections.
The Sarawak chapter of Pakatan Rakyat appears to be at odds over whether or not to convene a formal delegates meeting ahead of the state elections.
High-level PKR sources told Malaysiakini that the convention is being slated for March 12, where the coalition's joint manifesto is supposed to be unveiled and battle plans for the polls laid out.
The idea is to kick-start the Pakatan machinery a week after tomorrow's BN convention, where the ruling coalition is expected to sound war drums for the polls, widely expected in April.
But Sarawak DAP chief Wong Ho Leng (left) denied that the convention was on. "I have received no news about this," he said when contacted yesterday.
He said that Pakatan intends to come up with a joint manifesto for the state polls but believes that it would only be unveiled after nomination day.
"That is when campaigning officially begins," Wong said.
A Sarawak PKR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the top brass from all three parties would meet tomorrow to deliberate on the matter, including the manifesto and seat allocations.
Snap mulling offer
Sarawak National Party (Snap) secretary-general Standley Jugol, when contacted, said his party has been informed about the convention.
However, Standley said, a decision on whether to participate in the meeting would only be made at Snap's central executive committee meeting tomorrow.
Snap officially joined Pakatan in April last year, ahead of the Sibu by-election.
Regardless of whether the Pakatan convention takes place, 300 state PKR delegates will convene a meeting on March 11 to prepare for the state polls.
The venue is expected to be announced tomorrow in Kuching.
"We have sent out invitations to the party president and her deputy. We also expect a strong delegation of PKR elected representatives from West Malaysia to attend the meet," said a Sarawak PKR official.
He said that the main agenda for the meet was to design ways to capture Sarawak from the BN.
High-level PKR sources told Malaysiakini that the convention is being slated for March 12, where the coalition's joint manifesto is supposed to be unveiled and battle plans for the polls laid out.
The idea is to kick-start the Pakatan machinery a week after tomorrow's BN convention, where the ruling coalition is expected to sound war drums for the polls, widely expected in April.
But Sarawak DAP chief Wong Ho Leng (left) denied that the convention was on. "I have received no news about this," he said when contacted yesterday. He said that Pakatan intends to come up with a joint manifesto for the state polls but believes that it would only be unveiled after nomination day.
"That is when campaigning officially begins," Wong said.
A Sarawak PKR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the top brass from all three parties would meet tomorrow to deliberate on the matter, including the manifesto and seat allocations.
Snap mulling offer
Sarawak National Party (Snap) secretary-general Standley Jugol, when contacted, said his party has been informed about the convention.
However, Standley said, a decision on whether to participate in the meeting would only be made at Snap's central executive committee meeting tomorrow. Snap officially joined Pakatan in April last year, ahead of the Sibu by-election.
Regardless of whether the Pakatan convention takes place, 300 state PKR delegates will convene a meeting on March 11 to prepare for the state polls.
The venue is expected to be announced tomorrow in Kuching.
"We have sent out invitations to the party president and her deputy. We also expect a strong delegation of PKR elected representatives from West Malaysia to attend the meet," said a Sarawak PKR official.
He said that the main agenda for the meet was to design ways to capture Sarawak from the BN.
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