PKR-DAP to lock horns in S'wak
Tony ThienPublished: Feb 19, 2008 11:23 AM | Updated: Feb 19, 2008 11:29 AM
Opposition PKR and DAP look almost certain to head for three-cornered fights in at least four of the seven Chinese-majority parliamentary seats in Sarawak if last-minute negotiations should fail.
Opposition PKR and DAP look almost certain to head for three-cornered fights in at least four of the seven Chinese-majority parliamentary seats in Sarawak if last-minute negotiations should fail.
State PKR chief Dominique Ng Kim Ho, who is the state assemblyperson for Padungan, told a press conference of the party's intention to field candidates in Bandar Kuching and Stampin in Kuching, Sibu and Miri, apart from the remaining 15 Malay, Melanau and Dayak seats.
The national leaders of the two parties are still holding last-minute negotiations in Kuala Lumpur to avert a clash in Sarawak.
But sensing that the state DAP is unlikely to concede even a single Chinese-majority seat, Ng told reporters that he himself would contest in Bandar Kuching against the DAP incumbent Chong Chieng Jen and Barisan Nasional-SUPP's Allan Sim.
The state PKR director of election operations Baharuddin Mokhsen today released the names of the 19 parliamentary constituencies the party wants to contest in.
These are Santubong, Petra Jaya, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Kota Samarahan, Mambong, Batang Sadong, Sratok, Tanjung Manis, Igan, Julau, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit, Sibuti, Miri, Limbang, Lawas and Hulu Rajang.
However, he said Hulu Rajang might be contested instead by the Sarawak National Party (Snap).
“We ourselves have identified a very good candidate for Hulu Rajang (held by BN-PRS incumbent Billy Abit Jo),” he added.
Asked if PKR will join in the fray and face both BN and DAP like in Bandar Kuching, Ng said this would not necessarily the case.
“In Bandar Kuching we have our own supporters who make up 45 percent of the electorate and there are also many disgruntled members of SUPP,” he added.
PKR is particularly campaigning hard for Stampin to be given to its Stampin branch chairperson and lawyer See Chee How.
DAP will not give in
Contacted later, state Dap leader Wong Ho Leng, who is also Bukit Assek state assemblyperson and the party's candidate designate for Sibu (to take on the BN-SUPP incumbent Robert Lau Hoi Chew and possibly PKR candidate), said he would not comment for the time being because negotiations were still going on in Kuala Lumpur.
However, sources said the state DAP is unlikely to agree to yield even a single Chinese-majority seat to PKR on the ground that it has no or little support from the Chinese.
Ng denied this, saying the party with a multi-racial platform has as much right because it too has many Chinese members and supporters.
In the last state elections, PKR fielded a senior party leader in Batu Kawa which was won by BN-SUPP's Tan Joo Phoi.
A state DAP leader said PKR could not claim it had Chinese support “because when Ng was elected in Padungan, the people voted because of DAP and not PKR or him.”
State PKR chief Dominique Ng Kim Ho, who is the state assemblyperson for Padungan, told a press conference of the party's intention to field candidates in Bandar Kuching and Stampin in Kuching, Sibu and Miri, apart from the remaining 15 Malay, Melanau and Dayak seats.
The national leaders of the two parties are still holding last-minute negotiations in Kuala Lumpur to avert a clash in Sarawak.
But sensing that the state DAP is unlikely to concede even a single Chinese-majority seat, Ng told reporters that he himself would contest in Bandar Kuching against the DAP incumbent Chong Chieng Jen and Barisan Nasional-SUPP's Allan Sim.
The state PKR director of election operations Baharuddin Mokhsen today released the names of the 19 parliamentary constituencies the party wants to contest in.
These are Santubong, Petra Jaya, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Kota Samarahan, Mambong, Batang Sadong, Sratok, Tanjung Manis, Igan, Julau, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit, Sibuti, Miri, Limbang, Lawas and Hulu Rajang.
However, he said Hulu Rajang might be contested instead by the Sarawak National Party (Snap).
“We ourselves have identified a very good candidate for Hulu Rajang (held by BN-PRS incumbent Billy Abit Jo),” he added.
Asked if PKR will join in the fray and face both BN and DAP like in Bandar Kuching, Ng said this would not necessarily the case.
“In Bandar Kuching we have our own supporters who make up 45 percent of the electorate and there are also many disgruntled members of SUPP,” he added.
PKR is particularly campaigning hard for Stampin to be given to its Stampin branch chairperson and lawyer See Chee How.
DAP will not give in
Contacted later, state Dap leader Wong Ho Leng, who is also Bukit Assek state assemblyperson and the party's candidate designate for Sibu (to take on the BN-SUPP incumbent Robert Lau Hoi Chew and possibly PKR candidate), said he would not comment for the time being because negotiations were still going on in Kuala Lumpur.
However, sources said the state DAP is unlikely to agree to yield even a single Chinese-majority seat to PKR on the ground that it has no or little support from the Chinese.
Ng denied this, saying the party with a multi-racial platform has as much right because it too has many Chinese members and supporters.
In the last state elections, PKR fielded a senior party leader in Batu Kawa which was won by BN-SUPP's Tan Joo Phoi.
A state DAP leader said PKR could not claim it had Chinese support “because when Ng was elected in Padungan, the people voted because of DAP and not PKR or him.”
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