PKR has objected to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s decision to contest in Kadamaian and Moyog in the coming Sabah state election, as well as Barisan Nasional’s move to set up a clash with PKR in Karamunting.
State PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud said the Kadamaian and Moyog seats were initially allocated to Upko before its departure from Pakatan Harapan on Monday.
He said GRS should have discussed the two seats with PH following Upko’s exit before announcing its candidates.
Earlier today, BN also announced that it will field a candidate in Karamunting, which PKR had already said would be contested by its new member, George Hiew, formerly of GRS.
Mustapha said the announcements by BN and GRS, both of which had reached electoral pacts with PH, caught him by surprise.
“They should not have announced those three candidates. To me, this should have been discussed beforehand. What we have announced followed negotiations with both BN and GRS.
“I think we need to have further discussions (with BN and GRS) after this. We hope we can reach a resolution before nominations (on Saturday). Otherwise, there will be implications,” he told FMT.
The Moyog seat was previously held by Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, while Kadamaian was represented by Upko president Ewon Benedick. On Monday, Ewon led Upko in pulling out of PH.
PKR had announced former two-term assemblyman Hiew as its candidate for Karamunting on Sunday. Today, BN said it would field Chin Kim Hiung to vie for the seat.
Mustapha noted that GRS was set to announce four more candidates tomorrow, and expressed fear that there would be more clashes with PH on the cards.
The Sepanggar MP said PH’s relationship with BN and GRS could sour if there were further clashes of candidates.
He said PKR hoped that friendly contests would be kept to a minimum to avoid the splitting of votes, which would work in favour of their rivals.
“I hope BN and GRS will be rational about this. Negotiations must be done before a candidate is named.
“I think there’s still time. As long as the candidacy form is not submitted and they are not formally announced as candidates, we are still open to discussions (with BN and GRS),” he said.
