KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Dec: The question regarding the appeal for more seats to compete for is a normal request of every Pakatan Rakyat component party based on the ability to win a seat which is being competed for.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Opposition Leader, Datuk Anwar Ibrahim said that this matter can be discussed internally and this issue has been intentionally brought up by Umno-BN by only referring to the DAP Convention held in Penang recently.
According to Anwar, if DAP’s request for more seats in the upcoming 13th General Elections (GE-13) is unreasonable, then it will not be received.
“If they (DAP) ask beyond the reasonable amount, then of course we cannot accept it, but it (request to add seats) is allowed. PKR has also asked for several areas, just like PAS.
“It just happens to be that the statement was from DAP,” he said today in a press conference at the PKR headquarters.
So far, things are still in the discussion stage of the Advisory Committee and has yet to formally reach Anwar.
“90 percent of seat distribution has already been completed. There are only a few seats in Penang (1), Kedah (1) and Perak (2).There are a few in Sabah and Sarawak.But overall, 90-95 percent are complete.
“Pakatan’s tradition is to discuss it, however in the end, the committee will make the decision.
“The increase and the lack of seats, however, will be based on the party’s performance and their area in 2008. But we also always avoid open discussion because it will complicate the state and the parties,” he said.
Anwar cynically said that even in Umno itself, they do not have Chinese members and the decision in DAP’s selection is being used to evoke ‘Malay’ sentiments which is deemed to be inappropriate.
“Everyone knows that the majority of members in DAP are Chinese. They (DAP) have never hid (this fact). Majority of representatives are also Chinese. Now the addition significant participation of Malays in DAP, it probably is not enough to give support and impact in terms of leadership,” he said.
Last week, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said that the party wants 13 additional seats in Parliament and 10 for the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) for Peninsular Malaysia at the upcoming elections.
The increase of the 13 seats is on the basis of friendship and sincerity to PAS and PKR.
