KUCHING, July 15: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) has proposed the seat allocation for the Sarawak PH coalition be as such where it will contest in 29 seats, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in 40 and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in 13 in the next state election, expected to be called in 2021.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen who is also Sarawak PH chairman hoped PKR and Amanah will accept the proposal as further negotiation on one or two seats would only slow down or hamper the overall preparation for the whole pact.
He said the DAP state committee had agreed to fall back on what was agreed for the previous state election but with slight modifications on six overlapping seats.
“So we have decided today, for the 25 seats which we contested where PKR did not contest, we will contest, no questions asked,” said Chong at a press conference after chairing the party state committee meeting at its headquarters tonight.
In the last state election, DAP and PKR had agreed on all the seats except six seats, namely Mambong, Batu Kitang, Simanggang, Ngemah, Mulu and Murum, he explained.
For the six seats, he said DAP did better in Mambong, Batu Kitang and Simanggang while PKR did better in Mulu, Murum and Ngemah.
“The three we did better than PKR, we will contest; the three they did better, they will contest,” said Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Stampin MP.
As for the two seats which Sarawak Barisan Nasional (now Gabungan Parti Sarawak or GPS) won uncontested, namely Bukit Sari and Bukit Kota, he said DAP was supposed to contest in Bukit Kota while state PKR was supposed to take on Bukit Sari but both failed to do so.
For the next state election, he proposed DAP and PKR still take on Bukit Kota and Bukit Sari respectively, as they were supposed to do so in the previous state election but both did not nominate candidates for various reasons.
“This is the proposal adopted by DAP Sarawak and we have conveyed the message to PKR and Amanah.
“Amanah is all for it; PKR says it needs further discussion but I hope it will be accepted by their state and national committee.
“It is our proposal and we will pursue along that line in future meetings with PKR and Amanah,” said Chong.
He said Sarawak was the first state that reached seat consensus in the 14th General Election and he attributed the victory Sarawak PH achieved to being the first state to resolve the issue of seat allocation.
The 29 seats that Sarawak DAP will contest includes Tasik Biru, Padungan, Pending, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Batu Kitang, Stakan, Mambong, Kedup, Bukit Semuja, Simanggang, Repok, Meradong, Pakan, Bukit Assek, Dudong, Bawang Assan, Pelawan, Pelagus, Katibas, Bukit Goram, Tanjong Batu, Kemena, Samalaju, Piasau, Pujut, Senadin, Bukit Kota and Baleh.
Meanwhile, representing Sarawak DAP, Chong congratulated Tan Sri Richard Malanjum for his appointment as Chief Justice of Malaysia.
“His appointment clearly shows that PH practices meritocracy,” said Chong, adding that with Richard’s appointment, there was hope of bringing back the glorious day of judiacial independence and integrity.
Chong also congratulated David Wong Dak Wah who has been appointed to take over Richard’s previous position as the Chief Judge of Sarawak and Sabah. — DayakDaily
