PAS, PKR resolve seat clashes

KUALA LUMPUR (April 22, 2013): PAS is willing to concede three out of seven contentious seats over which its candidates and PKR contenders had clashed.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today said PAS has proposed its members back PKR candidates in these seats, namely, the Sungai Acheh (Penang) and Panti (Johor) state seats, and Labuan parliamentary seat.

"The PAS machinery (in the states) will be working for our friends, the PKR candidates," Abdul Hadi told a press conference at the party's headquarters.

In exchange, Abdul Hadi requested that PKR back PAS candidates in Bukit Besi, Kota Putera and Seberang Takir, three state seats in Terengganu.

Abdul Hadi said talks were ongoing to resolve the clash in Kota Damansara, involving PAS candidate Ridzuan Ismail and incumbent Dr Nasir Hashim, the president of Parti Sosialis Malaysia who will defend his state seat on a PKR ticket.

PKR Terengganu state chief Azan Ismail confirmed that the party has accepted Abdul Hadi's offer and its candidates from the three state seats will no longer contest these seats.

"The three seats now go to PAS," said Azan when contacted today.

Meanwhile, in SHAH ALAM, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor chief Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the working relationship between PKR and PAS in the state is still good despite several differences of opinions.

He said both parties will continue to work together as a team during the election and urged all to ignore provocations and rumors that try to undermine the candidates.

"If you ask about difference in views (between PAS and PKR), there is none. Even if there is, our parallel principle will make sure that we will work together as a team," he told a press conference today.

Abdul Khalid however said any issues or complaints regarding the election candidates should be brought to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting.

"If the information (about) the suitable candidates are true, I think the (PR) leadership would have accepted and discussed about it and we will make a fair ruling," he added.