Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing claimed that Ali had agreed to contest under GPS for PDP, after the ex-PKR man made way for the coalition in the contest for the Krian state seat last year.

“However, when Ali and I revisited the deal in Kuala Lumpur, Ali changed his mind for fear of losing his deputy minister’s post.

“I am compelled to tell my side of the story as many people want to know who had reneged on the agreement,” The Borneo Post quoted Tiong as saying.

Tiong mocked Ali for his change of heart because of the deputy minister post, saying he would have recommended the Bersatu man for a ministerial appointment if he had contested and won in Saratok on a GPS ticket.

“But Ali seemed to have thought otherwise and preferred to contest on a PN ticket.”

Ali is among four PN candidates clashing with GPS in Sarawak. Bersatu’s Jugah Muyang and Duke Janteng are contesting in Lubok Antu and Bintulu respectively, while PAS has fielded Hamdan Sani in Batang Lupar.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has drawn flak over the decision to field candidates in Sarawak, with state leaders claiming he had broken a promise made to GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg.

However, Muhyiddin denied breaking any promise, saying there was only an agreement that Bersatu would not contest in the previous state elections, not the parliamentary election.