KUCHING: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is likely to clash with opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan in 11 constituencies during the state polls.
Based on the candidates announced early this month, PAS will clash with its offshoot Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in five seats — Samariang, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau and Beting Maro.
It will also clash with former Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partner Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Samalaju and Pujut.
Although there were earlier indications of a loose agreement with its other former PR partner Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS had announced candidates for Pantai Damai, Kakus, Jepak and Lambir — all seats where PKR will also contest.
Meanwhile, despite numerous meetings on seat negotiations at state and federal level, DAP and PKR still seem at odds over the five seats.
On Friday, PKR announced just 35 of its candidates with state chief Baru Bian indicating that five other candidates could only be announced tomorrow on nomination day due to overlapping claims with DAP.
The five seats are believed to include Mambong, Mulu and Murum where the DAP has already announced its candidates.
As of yesterday, there has been no announcement of challenges to Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in Tellian, Dalat, Baleh, Bukit Kota and Batu Danau.
However, DAP has indicated that it would have a candidate for Baleh, where it originally intended to field Larry Asap, who has now moved to Bukit Goram following former Sarawak Workers Party president Larry Sng’s decision not to contest.
DAP is said to have had an agreement with Sng not to contest in the constituency to enable a straight fight between him and the BN candidate.
Meanwhile, rumours are rife that in constituencies where BN is fielding direct candidates, there will be multi-cornered fights with proxy opponents from BN component parties or BN-friendly parties entering the fray.
One such seat is Mulu, where BN is fielding direct candidate Datuk Gerawat Jala and DAP, Paul Raja.
It may be a three-cornered fight as BN component Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) founding member Dr Roland Dom Mattu resigned from the party, stating his wish to contest as an independent.
In Batu Kawah, BN candidate Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian may face not only DAP candidate Christina Chiew but also former United People’s Party (UPP) Batu
Kawah chairman Liu Thian Leong, who having not been selected as a direct BN candidate resigned from the party and announced his contest as an independent.
In Simanggang, SUPP deputy president Datuk Francis Harden Hollis may face former SUPP leader Datuk Dr Ngu Piew Seng, who said he would stand as an independent, as well as DAP candidate Leon Jimat Donald.
DAP is also likely to face a former member in Repok with DAP Sarikei secretary Wong Ching King resigning from the party to take on, as an independent, the DAP’s choice of Yong Siew Wei and BN’s Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii.
With the State Reform Party (STAR) intending to contest in 13 seats and PBDS Baru joining the fray in at least four seats, the 11th state election would definitely be an eventful one.