A source close to PKR revealed that a faction in the party, said to be led by Deputy President Mohamed Azmin Ali, is currently in talks with its former ally, PAS, to negotiate seats between the two parties.
“In the arrangement, PKR will contest in Sungai Besar, while PAS will be allowed to contest in Kuala Kangsar without interference from other Pakatan Harapan parties,” said the source, who wanted to remain anonymous.
During the recently-concluded Sarawak state election, infighting led to PKR and DAP clashing in six constituencies.
Both parties could not reach an agreement over the six seats, leading to both fielding candidates in Mambong, Batu Kitang, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mulu. BN won all six seats.
With regard to the upcoming by-elections in the peninsula, FMT understands that Amanah President Mohammad Sabu and PKR President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail are deeply disappointed over the developments as the PAS-splinter party wants the seat for itself.
The source also said PKR would try to resolve the problem internally by making sure the candidates for the by-elections are endorsed by all the allies within PH.
Meanwhile, another source close to PH claimed that two PKR central leaders – one from the Wanita wing and another from the youth wing – are currently in talks with PAS over the matter.
“Both leaders had a meeting for Sungai Besar yesterday with PAS,” the source said.
FMT also understands that the candidates identified by the faction are PKR’s Vice-President Shaharuddin Baharuddin or former Selangor MB Muhammad Muhd Taib.
While both have yet to give their comments on the matter, Muhammad, who joined PKR last year after leaving PAS, had stated that PAS should contest in the two seats.
“Contesting to lose is not a clever move, now is the time for consolidation,” he said in a statement today.
Azmin, when met by reporters at Sungai Besar today, refused to comment on whether PKR would be contesting in the constituency.
“No candidates yet, it is still in discussion,” he said.
Meanwhile, PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man today warned PH not to participate in the by-elections if they wanted to defeat BN as both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar were the Islamist party’s traditional seats.
The Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar seats were left vacant after their MPs – Noriah Kasnon and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar – died in a helicopter crash last week during the Sarawak election campaign.
The Election Commission (EC) is holding a special meeting on the two by-elections tomorrow to decide on the nomination and polling days.