Anthony Loke: Umno asked to contest Pakatan’s seats in Selangor
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Political ally Umno did ask for Pakatan Harapan (PH) to give way in some Selangor state seats during allocation talks, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has confirmed.
In an interview with local daily Sin Chew Daily, Loke said this request was not just made to DAP but also to other PH component parties.
“[Umno] did have such a request, did ask us to give way for a seat. But not only DAP, PKR was also asked. While Parti Amanah Negara was asked in other states to give way for seats,” he was quoted saying by the Chinese-language paper.
While saying that Umno would hope to increase the number of seats it will be contesting in the state elections, Loke reportedly said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — who is also PH chairman — had been told of the view that there should be quid pro quo for such an exchange.
Loke however said that Selangor seats would only be swapped within the parties with another state in the seat — and there would be no swapping of seats with other states.
When asked if DAP did make way for any seats to Umno’s coalition Barisan Nasional, Loke reportedly said the answer would be known when announcements are made.
In a separate report on the same interview, Sin Chew Daily reported Loke as saying that seat allocation talks for the state elections were not between political parties, but were carried out between coalitions.
In the federal coalition, DAP belongs to PH while Umno is in Barisan Nasional.
Loke said the seat allocations were based on the principle of the same political parties defending the seat they had won.
“We respect the seats won by allies, so for the seats won by Umno, we did not discuss a single one. For example, in the 15th general election, PKR won one of Umno’s parliamentary seats, but the state seat under that constituency, PH also did not seek to take,” he said.
He suggested that Anwar would be deciding on the seat swaps between PH and BN.
Political parties would have to send their candidates for nomination on July 29 in the six state elections in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, with a 14-day campaign period before votes are cast on August 12.
