PKR’S lack of confidence in Amanah and Bersatu’s ability to help keep Selangor in the hands of the opposition is the reason for the friction over Pakatan Harapan’s seat negotiations in the state, political analyst Hisommudin Bakar said.

The executive director at Ilham Centre said research commissioned by Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali had found that Amanah and Bersatu, both Malay-based parties, lacked the presence to replace PAS in the state.

He said this was why PKR was seeking to contest at least 30 state seats in Selangor – the 20 that it contested and 10 more that PAS won when the Islamist party was an opposition ally in the 13th general election.

PAS and the opposition parted ways in 2015.

Hisomuddin said research on the parties’ visibility found that Amanah and Bersatu did not have the presence to replace PAS at grassroots level.

“So (PKR) created its own roadmap in an effort to stay in government, which PKR believes it can achieve by contesting more than 30 seats,” said Hisommudin.

“This roadmap of the seats PKR wants to contest is the cause of its friction with Amanah, Bersatu and DAP in Selangor now.”

He agreed that Amanah did not have sufficient presence among voters, and said it was because the PAS splinter party had failed to promote its grassroots leaders to the public.

“This is among Amanah’s main weaknesses. It is not any less a party but it is not visible on the ground.

Another political researcher, Dr Mazlan Ali of University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) found that 35% of PAS members had left to join Amanah and of those who remained in the Islamist party, 10% were secretly supportive of Amanah while 20% were confused about PAS’ direction.

Mazlan’s research, which commenced in 2015 when Amanah was formed, also found that many who remained in PAS would likely vote for PH, specifically for Amanah, in GE14.

Hisommudin said PKR could not afford to look down on Amanah and Bersatu as each party had its advantages.

“Amanah has a good network of election machinery as it has a large number of professional and competent mobilisers who had done work for PAS before joining Amanah.

“And Bersatu has Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) who has proved his ability to win much rural Malay and Felda support for PH, as a study by Institut Darul Ehsan has found,” he said, citing a report by The Malaysian Insight.

Hisomuddin said PKR should not view GE14 as a competition between  individual parties but as a fight between PH and Barisan Nasional.

“It is obvious that PKR is strong in Selangor, that’s why a PKR leader is the PH chairman in Selangor, but each party has something it can contribute to help PH win in the 14th general election,” he said, referring to Azmin who is PH Selangor chief.

“PKR has to see PH as a team fighting against BN, not Amanah or Bersatu going against BN to determine who will gain victory.”

PKR and Amanah have been trading barbs and accusations over seat negotiations in Selangor amid confusion over whether a special committee was needed to resolve the talks.

PH Selangor is to resolve seat talks by February 7, the extended deadline after it failed to resolve the issue by January 31.

Selangor Amanah communications director Jamzuri Ardani, who earlier said talks had not even started because of Azmin’s failure to set up a special committee, said he had asked about the committee as he wanted the matter to be resolved with clarity.

“(The question was raised) with good intentions so that the matter will be resolved immediately through a clear and organised negotiation process,” Jamzuri said.

He said there was confusion as to who exactly had been given the mandate to handle seat negotiations in Selangor. There is currently dispute as to whether the task falls to the PH elections bureau or if a special committee is required.

“It was understood by many that the elections bureau was just meant to manage election preparations for PH. Hence, the matter was raised in meetings and also raised in a letter to the PH chairman.” 

Jamzuri also defended Selangor Amanah chief Izham Hashim, saying the party leadership had never doubted Azmin’s capabilities as Selangor menteri besar.

Izham had also commented on whether Azmin, as Selangor PH chairman, was able to help the pact overcome its issues when negotiating seat distributions, Jamzuri said.

Instead Izham only commented on the effectiveness of PH Selangor chairman on overcoming the current issues regarding the role of PH including issue of the state assembly seats distribution, he said.

Nor did Izham label anyone a “joker” or a “clown” as reported online, he said, when Izham reacted to the news about PKR’s claims that seat talks had started yet none of the other PH parties knew about it. – February 4, 2018.