JOHOR BARU – Amanah’s offer of the Puteri Wangsa seat to Muda does not sit well with Johor Wanita PKR chief Napsiah Khamis Maharan.
Speaking to The Vibes, she said the seat is one that Pakatan Harapan (PH) won in 2018 with a very comfortable majority with then Bersatu candidate Mazlan Bujang.
However, since he defected to Perikatan Nasional, she said PKR has done extensive work in the constituency to repair PH’s image among voters.
As party coordinator for the area, she was slated as PKR’s candidate for the state constituency.
“I took the responsibility to restore PH and PKR’s image in the constituency.
“We did so much work to build trust for PKR because the Puteri Wangsa seat was won with (Mazlan using) the party logo.”
During initial seat negotiations among PH component parties, Napsiah said Amanah requested to contest in the constituency.
This is despite, according to Napsiah, no work done by DAP or Amanah in the area.
“Although it was difficult to let go of the seat, we agreed because we are coalition members with Amanah. But what happened instead was Amanah gave the seat to Muda.
“What happened to Amanah? Why did it give away the winnable seats when Muda is a new party with no grassroots?”
According to a statement by Johor PKR chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, a total of three seats were offered to Muda.
But Napsiah alleged that Muda is not agreeable to the offer because they are not opposition safe seats.
“We have grassroots, and they are angry. In fact, Amanah members in Puteri Wangsa are also angry, as they didn’t agree with the decision to let Muda contest the seat.”
When asked about the anger PKR members have towards Muda, Napsiah said they are unsure how loyal the newly formed youth party will be.
“This election is not the time to test Muda, because this is going to determine our survival after the (loss in) Melaka and Sarawak elections.
“Many in the party believe that Muda is linked to Pejuang founder and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.” – The Vibes, February 10, 2022
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