Liew, flanked by PKR strategic director Sim Tze Tzin (left) and PKR Sabah information chief Simsudin Sidek at the ‘kupi kupi’ session.
KOTA KINABALU: Seats negotiations between Warisan Plus and Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sabah have yet to be finalised, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah chief Datuk Christina Liew.
Liew, who is also PH Sabah liaison chief, explained that even though Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal would announce the party’s candidates on Thursday, it does not necessarily mean that the negotiation is completed.
Speaking to reporters at a ‘kupi kupi’ session with PKR Sabah and party’s central leaders on Monday, Liew said, “we have agreed among parties on some seats and negotiations are ongoing. I would not say that we have completed what we want. The important thing is working together to ensure that we win in all the seats we contest in.”
When asked to confirm a viral message about PKR not being happy with the seats allocation and may want to go on its own, Liew said that it is not true.
“I feel that this story including one that says we are asking for 25 seats, is too far fetched,” she said.
To the question on how many seats PKR Sabah is hoping to get, the former Api Api assemblywoman said, “many but it is all subject to the negotiations as we hope that we are able to work together with other parties. Our party president has mentioned that he hopes we can get more than what we had last time, so it is ongoing… we will see what happens the next few days.”
PKR Sabah contested in eight seats in the 2018 election and won two, Liew in Api Api and Kenny Chua in Inanam. PKR also fielded a candidate for the Moyog seat, Jenifer Lasimbang, who contested under Warisan’s logo and subsequently joined the party.
Prior to the dissolution of the state assembly in July, Chua left PKR and aligned himself with Tan Sri Musa Aman.
Liew when asked on the possibility of PKR swapping the Inanam seat with Warisan, said it was unlikely because the party would defend the seats it won in the previous state election.
For the Moyog seat, Liew said it had yet to be finalised, adding that “it is important that this election all the parties must be happy with what they are getting before they get to the battle.”
“We need to finalise everything before Saturday, nomination day. PKR’s machinery is ready, it is just the issue of which seats we get. We will make sure that the candidate we pick is winnable and loyal.
“This election is paramount and we need to ensure that our agenda comes first. Our agenda is we want to win, we want to be in the government, want to be relevant and use this as our reform agenda.
“Unity among the parties is also very important as is the ability to deliver what we have promised and that is services to the people. PKR’s candidates will be loyal to the party and the people who gave them mandate,” she said.