PKR still working to avoid face-off with DAP

(The Star) – Pakatan Harapan’s candidate selection will come right down to the line, judging by Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian’s latest comments.

He told reporters on Thursday here that efforts were still ongoing between DAP and PKR to avoid multi-cornered fights.

However, the Ba’kelalan incumbent was tight-lipped on progress.

“You will probably find out during nomination (day),” Baru said when asked when PKR would announce its candidates.

“As far as we are concerned, there are still a few days to go before nomination. I will of course find a means … We would like to avoid any overlapping seats. Like they say, it takes both hands to clap,” he said.

DAP had announced its finalised list of 29 candidates, and state party chief Chong Chieng Jen said it would contest an additional seat after one more candidate was confirmed.

PKR has consistently said it intends to field candidates in 40 seats.

Baru would not be drawn into specifics on which seats were in dispute.

He described the coming polls as “very difficult”.

“In politics, nothing is that simple. One plus one doesn’t equal two – that kind of thing. You can have (a) high probability, feel very hopeful but anything can happen in politics. Things can change in a day.

“PKR will work to defend the three seats it won in 2011 – Ba’kelalan, Krian and Batu Lintang – and “anymore beyond that is a bonus”, he said.

Nomination day is next Monday, polling is on May 7, with 12 days of campaigning.

In the 2011 Sarawak elections, DAP took 12 seats and PKR won three.

DAP swept most of the urban seats, while PKR’s rural efforts paid off.

This time around there are 82 seats up for grabs, following the 11 newly created seats, almost all in rural areas.