[UPDATED] Weekend deadline: Muda claps back at PKR over Johor seat clashes, says it’s up to voters to decide

KUALA LUMPUR – The spat over seat negotiations for Johor continues as Muda will not hesitate to clash with PKR, giving the Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party until this weekend to back down from contesting in 20 constituencies as announced.

The youth-led party, in facing its inaugural election, said it has held several official talks with PKR leadership but yet the party ended negotiations when it decided to contest in 20 seats.

“Despite that, Muda has conveyed to DAP and Amanah its intentions to avoid seat clashes with PKR and that it is open to continuing talks.

“If there are no developments and changes in PKR’s decision, Muda will hold a special meeting this weekend to discuss a way forward. If seat clashes happen between us and PKR, Muda will leave it to the Johor people to decide,” it said in a statement today.

It reiterated that it has worked to avoid clashes with other opposition parties and that its main focus is to bring positive changes to Johor.

Similarly, Johor PKR chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh has been keeping mum on negotiation details, saying that the door is always open as there is still time before nomination day on February 26. 

The spat worsened after Johor PKR women’s chief Napsiah Khamis Maharan criticised Muda’s decision to contest in Puteri Wangsa after the former’s machinery had worked hard to regain the people’s trust.

She said the seat was given to Amanah to contest but questioned the rationale in then giving way to Muda.

She added that PKR was not agreeable to the seats initially requested by Muda and had offered three other constituencies in return.

Napsiah stopped short of naming the seats in question, but said those sought by Muda had formerly belonged to Bersatu.

Last Wednesday, Syed Ibrahim said the party has already offered three seats to Muda, but the latter claimed PKR has yet to finalise its offer. 

Earlier, Amanah and DAP had already agreed to offer Muda a total of six seats to contest, namely Tenang, Bukit Kepong, Parit Raja, Machap, Puteri Wangsa and Bukit Permai. 

Meanwhile, Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman adopted a conciliatory tone at a PH event on Monday, calling for a united front to fight “the arrogance of Barisan Nasional (BN)” in Johor.

On the tussle between PKR and Muda, he said it must have been peculiar as many felt that his party was on a mission to “fight with friends” in the opposition.

“Let me remind you that Muda is built to overhaul Malaysia’s politics. In doing so, it must be clear who we are fighting, and who are our friends,” he said during the launch of PH’s election machinery in Pulai.

“It’s our responsibility to unite for Johor. If BN is saying they bring stability, it’s the biggest lie.”

Also present at the event was PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who said PKR, Amanah, DAP and Muda share the same goal in the Johor polls.

He also urged for a new approach, urging the coalition’s machinery to focus on pressing issues in Johor. – The Vibes, February 18, 2022