Malaysia: ‘Harapan parties in tussle for seats in Malacca polls’

• Pakatan Harapan components in Malacca have yet to reach a consensus on negotiations ahead of nomination day for the state polls, as one PKR source pointed to a tussle for at least two seats – Paya Rumput and Asahan.
• According to the source, both PKR and DAP are laying claims on Paya Rumput, while Amanah is also eyeing to contest in Asahan.
• “It is still under discussion and as of yesterday, no decisions have been made. The heated and difficult decision is for Paya Rumput. PKR wants the seat as it was originally the party’s which was then handed over to Bersatu. But DAP also wants this seat.”
• “The seat eyed by all three parties is Asahan. DAP, PKR and Amanah all want it,” the source told Malaysiakini.
• For the record, PKR contested the Paya Rumput seat since 2008, up until it was handed over to Bersatu in 2018 as then Harapan component party.
• Bersatu’s candidate Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen defeated Umno and PAS candidates in the 14th general election (GE14), forming a part of the state government until Bersatu broke ranks with Harapan and triggered the first change of administration.
• Harapan had also fielded a Bersatu candidate in Asahan who lost to Umno in a three-cornered contest with PAS.
• The PKR source also confirmed that the unresolved seats only made up about 10% of ongoing discussions.
• In the 14th general election, Harapan divided the 28 state seats in Malacca between four parties, with Amanah and Bersatu allocated seats which were also previously contested by PAS as a former Pakatan Rakyat component.
• PKR and DAP had each contested in eight seats, while Amanah and Bersatu took six seats each.
• DAP emerged as the biggest winner with a clean sweep, followed by PKR with three seats, while Amanah and Bersatu scored two seats each.
• With Bersatu’s departure from Harapan, its six seats will once again be divided among the remaining components. Aside from Asahan and Paya Rumput, the remaining four seats up for grabs are Ayer Limau, Lendu, Telok Mas and Sungai Rambai.

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