Sarawak election: DAP and PKR to go separate ways

DAP and PKR have decided to go separate ways in the 11th Sarawak state election if the indication from leaders of both parties was gauged, since an agreement to resolve the conflict of overlapping seats, has hit a dead end.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party will now focus on all the 31 seats it was contesting and no longer focus on the tussle for seats with PKR.

Chong told reporters after revealing the party's manifesto themed "Wealth Sharing For All Sarawakians" at its headquarters, here today that some of its winnable seats were affected by PKR's move to breach an agreement with DAP on seat allocation.

DAP and PKR are set to lock horns in six seats, namely Batu Kitang, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong after talks of an amicable solution fell flat.

Meanwhile, PKR reiterated its stand to not withdraw its candidates in five seats although DAP had also fielded its candidates and rejected any attempts for a settlement proposed by DAP's national organising secretary Anthony Loke, yesterday.

PKR vice president Dr Xavier Jayakumar said PKR candidates would contest in all six seats although DAP have also named candidates for the same seats.

"DAP was not serious in the seat allocation for Batu Kitang especially and five other seats, namely Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong.

"Compared to the DAP candidate who was only named in the last minute, PKR's Voon Shiak Ni (Batu Kitang) has been working hard in the area for the past 10 to 15 years and is well known among the people compared with other candidates," he told reporters at the PKR operations room, here today.

DAP has named Chong's special officer Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo, 26, a new face, said Jayakumar when commenting on Loke's statement yesterday, urging PKR to withdraw its five candidates in Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong while DAP would withdraw its candidate for Batu Kitang.

"PKR will proceed with our agenda. In fact our strategy for campaigning has already started. DAP can move on," he added.