Finding it difficult to break Umno's dominance in Malay areas, PAS is now encroaching into PKR and DAP's territories.
With the 13th general election looming, fireworks are expected between Pakatan Rakyat component parties regarding seat negotiations.
According to sources, this is mainly because PAS is expected to make two demands.
The first, said a source, is the Islamic party will request for seats contested by former PKR reps who have since quit the party to become independents.
The seats on PAS’ radar screen are Kulim Bandar Baru, Padang Serai, Bagan Serai and Bayan Baru, whose incumbents crossed swords with the PKR leadership and put in their resignation letters.
“The PAS grassroots are arguing that it will be better to let PAS contest these seats since PKR representatives jump ship easily,” the source told FMT.
The second demand, he said, will be mixed-populated seats contested by PKR during the 12th general election.
Even though PAS contested in several racially-mixed urban seats such as the Shah Alam and Kota Raja parliamentary seats, PKR contested in the majority of them during the last election.
This time around, PAS is expected to demand more of such seats as the party has found it difficult to break Umno’s monopoly in rural areas, except in Kelantan and Kedah.
Remember what happened in 1959?
Meanwhile, a PKR MP, who declined to be named, asked PAS not to get “overly emotional” regarding the leaders who left the party.
“Yes, we admit that these leaders let us down. But it’s unfair to deny PKR the chance to contest those seats again based on such incidents.
“PAS must understand that it too went through a similar crisis in the early stages of the party’s formation during the 1950s.
“Remember how the Terengganu PAS state government collapsed despite the party winning 13 state seats in the 1959 general election? This was because three PAS reps joined Umno with another three reps from Parti Negara,” he told FMT.
He said that PKR has undergone a “cleansing process” of problematic leaders and will bounce back stronger in the next general election.
“So PAS should not use this as an excuse to try and snatch our seats,” he added.
PAS leaders, namely its deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, have urged state PAS leaders to contest in mixed areas, where Chinese voters are the deciding factor.
‘Creating fissures in Pakatan’
Commenting on this, a state PAS leader, who wished to remain anonymous, said Nasharuddin has been “roaming” nationwide, attending seminars, to spread this message.
“He has asked us to push for such seats either from PKR or DAP in order to increase PAS’ seat tally both at the federal and state levels.
“Nasharuddin believes that PAS can win these seats easily because the Chinese totally reject Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.
However, the PAS state leader is uncomfortable with the idea, warning that it can cause friction between the Pakatan parties.
“Who is going to fight in rural areas if everybody wants to contest in urban and semi-urban seats?” he asked.
Instead of encroaching into the traditional domains of PKR and DAP, the PAS leader suggested that his party leadership formulate new strategies to break Umno’s dominance in Malay majority areas.
“Nasharuddin’s suggestion is a step backwards. I call it a short cut to success,” he said.
He also questioned if Nasharuddin has an ulterior motive since he is one of the main figures in the unity government proposal with Umno, which was shot down by PAS’ spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
“Perhaps Nasharuddin is attempting to drive a wedge between the Pakatan parties. I believe that the unity government idea is still brewing despite the leaders involved denying it,” he added.
On the same note, he said there still can be a win-win situation if PKR agrees to give up or swap seats with PAS.
“It is okay if the seats belong to us and we gave it to PKR, but the party failed to make inroads for two consecutive general elections or if the seats are swapped,” he added.
