PKR gives 'several' seats to Snap

With talks over seats having collapsed between the two parties, PKR announced it would give way to Snap in relation to candidates for the April 16 Sarawak polls as “a sign of goodwill” and as part of attempts to ensure BN is dislodged.

Saying this today, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said this is a sign of the party’s “deep and abiding commitment” to toppling the BN government led by Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He did not, however, specify which or how many seats PKR was willing to give to Snap as part of its 'goodwill' move.

Chua’s remarks follow a series of public statements by leaders of both PKR and Snap accusing the other of sabotaging negotiations to forge an electoral pact for the state elections scheduled to take place on April 16.

Nominations for the 71 seat-polls are slated for April 6.

In his statement issued this afternoon, Chua said PKR had endeavoured to reach a compromise over the allocation of seats between the party and Snap, but the latter had been “unwilling to forge a united front” to ensure one-on-one contests with BN.

From the onset, said Chua, Snap had been uncompromising in its insistence on contesting no less than 27 seats of their choice and thereby force an “impasse” in the talks.

“Our attempt to discuss seat allocations by comparing the winnability of respective candidates and relative strength of electoral machinery was rejected out of hand.

“If there is no willingness to meet at any point in between, an equitable partnership cannot be forged.

“It seems unfortunately evident to all that Snap is more interested in contesting the main bulk of Dayak seats for the sake of contesting, rather than to attain winning formula to defeat BN,” said Chua.

Contrary to Snap president Edwin Dundang’s (far left) suggestion yesterday that PKR was dragging its feet in showing its list of candidates, Chua said his party had sent “numerous letters and messages” to Snap leaders. It was the latter, said Chua, who did “not reply whatsoever”.

Chua also reiterated suspicions that Snap had been used by “peninsular-based forces” to subvert and break up Sarawak Pakatan, which Snap joined last year.

“We had hoped that Snap would be willing to walk together with us and be part of Pakatan Rakyat's struggle for justice in both Sarawak and the rest of Malaysia.

“If they have chosen to put other priorities first, and have no interest in reaching any compromise, we can only part ways amicably and wish them the best in their endeavours.”