KUCHING: State PKR has downplayed reports that the seat negotiation between them and the DAP has broken down.
Its state liaison chief Baru Bian said the negotiation was still going on and no conclusion had been reached yet.
Baru admitted that there were still a few overlapping claims of seats between both parties but it did not mean that PKR and DAP could not work together.
Among the overlapping claims is Bukit Kota, which is a Malay and Kadazan majority seat.
“I want to make a clear clarification here that contrary to reports that seat negotiation between PKR and DAP has broken down, the negotiation is still on-going.
“We have not come to a final deadlock yet,” Baru told a press conference at the party’s service centre at 3rd Mile yesterday.
Present was state PKR advisor Datuk Hafsah Harun.
He was optimistic that an amicable solution could be reached between both parties, adding: “I am 100 per cent sure that we can reach a consensus because at the end of the day, we want the problem to be resolved.”
He was also confident that the seat arrangement could be worked out within “two to three days”, saying that both DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang and PKR national de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would come to an amicable arrangement for the benefit of the state Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Baru, who is certain to contest in Ba Kelalan, also described as a ‘good gesture’ that the DAP had requested PKR to meet with them before April 4.
“It is fine with us (PKR) and it is a good sign that we can work together,” he said, adding that he himself would definitely approach DAP.
Yesterday, DAP state chairman Wong Ho Leng invited PKR to meet him before the specified date, the day when he would hand over the authorisation letter finalising the 18 candidates.
At the press conference, Wong, who is Sibu MP and Bukit Assek incumbent, also said that the party was willing to concede Padungan, Senadin and Balai Ringin to PKR.
This means that DAP would be contesting in 15 seats.
Asked if SNAP has been excluded from PR, Baru said attempts to contact Edmund Stanley Jugol (SNAP secretary general) since Wednesday had failed.
But, he added, PKR would continue to pursue SNAP and bring them to the table for negotiations.
“We will continue to make attempt to reach out to them (SNAP),” he said.