UMNO is highly unlikely to be given the 10 seats it asked for to contest in the forthcoming Selangor polls, a high-ranking PKR leader said.

The source said apart from the five seats Umno will defend, the party wanted an additional five seats.

This was brought up during the preliminary seat negotiations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Umno will not get all the seats it asked for.

“The most PH would compromise on, is seven,” the source who wanted to remain anonymous said.

Last week, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said PH and BN agreed that parties which won seats in the 2018 general election will contest them again in the upcoming polls in six states.

The PH secretary-general said the consensus was agreed upon during preliminary seat talks by the two coalitions.

In Selangor, PH has 40 seats: 19 is held by PKR, DAP (15) and Amanah (6).

BN has five seats in Selangor – Semenyih, Sungai Burong, Hulu Bernam, Sungai Panjang and Sungai Air Tawar – all won by Umno.

The source did not disclose details pertaining to the additional seats Umno requested for, claiming it was just an initial request made by the party during early discussions.

“Nothing is confirmed for now but the decision will be made after Raya,” he added.

On Tuesday, PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the results of PH and BN’s seat negotiations for the state polls will be announced after Raya or by the end of May.

The source also said BN component parties, MCA and MIC, would also be considered for certain seats but added it has yet to be finalised.

Meanwhile, the source said youth-based party Muda may not end up with any seats in Selangor.

“It looks very likely that Muda might not get any seats in Selangor.

“They don’t seem to have the support on the ground. Their support is basically from social media.

“They probably might be given a seat elsewhere,” he added.

The relationship between Muda and PH does not seem to be going smoothly.

Muda is yet to be included into the PH coalition despite sending in an official application.

Saifuddin, who is also the home minister, said he hasd yet to read the letter sent by Muda because his ministerial duties have kept him occupied.

Muda was left out of the unity government’s secretariat meetings.

However, Saifuddin acknowledged that the youth-centric political party is part of the government as stipulated in the unity government’s memorandum of understanding. – April 19, 2023.