In a press conference at the Sabah PKR office today, Liew said Sabah PH only decided to let Warisan take the lead in the election for state seats, which meant Warisan would contest more state seats than Sabah PH.
However, she said, the question of seat distribution was not discussed at the Sabah PH meeting here chaired by PH election director Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday.
“The announcement of allocating 60% of the state seats to Warisan with Sabah PH getting 40% was made by Stephen Wong in his capacity as Sabah DAP chairman and does not represent the stand of Sabah PH,” she said.
She said Muhyiddin, at Tuesday’s meeting, advised Sabah PH leaders to form an electoral pact with local opposition parties, in particular Warisan, to face the upcoming polls.
There was no talk about seat distribution as the meeting was only to determine Sabah PH’s level of preparedness for the election, she added.
As such, Liew said, she has written a formal letter to Warisan president Shafie Apdal, who is now in Kuala Lumpur, to express Sabah PH’s intention to form an electoral pact with his party.
“The letter, which was also sent to other Warisan leaders, was written so we can schedule a suitable time to meet and negotiate the terms of the pact.
“In discussing seat distribution, each party of the Sabah PH – PKR, DAP and Amanah – will sit with Warisan, after which we can come together as Sabah PH,” she said, adding that this approach would not take up too much time.
Liew said any formula on seat distribution should be decided after meeting with each party and not negotiated through the media.
She said it was probable that Wong was misquoted by some media that reportedly said the decision on the 60:40 seat distribution as announced was final and the Sandakan MP was essentially giving Warisan an ultimatum.
“We have sent an official letter to Warisan and I hope things will be resolved amicably,” she said.
Liew, who is also Sabah PKR chairperson, said she agreed with Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking that seat distribution must take into account critical factors such as the personality of the candidates.
She commended Leiking’s acknowledgement on political collaboration with PH to put Sabah’s interest first.
“We urge our fellow PH party leaders to recognise the political reality based on Sabah’s perspective as per MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) without compromising the national interest.
“PKR Sabah subscribes to an electoral pact and will use our autonomy power to decide on seat distribution with Warisan,” she said.
Commenting on the current situation within Sabah PH, Liew said everything was fine and it was normal in a group to have disagreements.
She urged PH supporters to remain focused as the election was fast approaching.
Commenting on the issue of the 13 new state seats, Liew said it would be constitutionally wrong if the additional seats were not contested in the coming elections.
She said there was still time to gazette the seats because Parliament would sit again in March and the session could be used to approve the additional seats.
Meanwhile, Sabah DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin issued a statement after Liew’s news conference expressing his party’s disagreement with Liew’s statement.
However, he said Sabah DAP would not pursue the matter and would conduct seat negotiations through proper channels and in private between the parties concerned.
Warisan questions sincerity of Sabah PH in offering 36 seats
PH to Warisan: Give us federal seats and we give you state seats