The failure of DAP and PKR to resolve seat disputes ahead
of nomination day in Sarawak is immensely regrettable, as is the blame game
that has ensued.
Unfortunately for all us, blame must be shared. It is not
one-sided. We collectively failed to negotiate an agreement acceptable to both
sides.
Voon Shiak Ni, PKR candidate for Batu Lintang
It is not a setback for just DAP or just PKR, it is a
setback for both parties, for Pakatan Harapan, and for the Malaysian people who
support us.
However, we should not let this single failure stand in
the way of future successes. But for the future to be clear, and for partners
to stand on even ground, we must set the past straight.
1. "Signing"
of the note:
After the negotiation meeting with Lim Guan Eng on 7
April, he suggested that Azmin Ali and Nurul Izzah sign on a hand-written note
with a list of seats, but both Azmin and Nurul were opposed to signing the
note. Guan Eng kept persuading them and in the end, only Azmin agreed to sign,
but only in principal - "Secara prinsip bersetuju" - with the
understanding that it was not a final decision.
The understanding between Guan Eng, Azmin and Nurul was
that the meeting was not conclusive because they would continue to negotiate
even after signing the note, and even until just before nomination day if
necessary.
2. Pakatan
Harapan Presidential Council meeting:
The Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council held a meeting
on 11 April. Before the meeting, PKR and DAP failed to reach consensus on the
five seats, but agreed to resolve this in the next round of negotiations and to
work towards one-to-one contests with BN.
Hence, in the Presidential Council it was announced that
PKR and DAP had reached consensus on one-to-one contests. When the Amanah representative
asked which seats had been resolved, Guan Eng said there was no need to present
it there as PKR and DAP would resolve this independently.
DAP thus implied that negotiations were still on. PKR and
DAP were to continue negotiating even after 11 April. It is clear in Clause 5.5
of Pakatan Harapan Agreement:
‘The final decision of which party shall represent
Pakatan Harapan in any election of any level shall be made by the Presidential
Council and each party shall not announce its decision to contest in any seat
at any level without the prior approval of the Presidential Council.’
3. Mandate
on Watikah (appointment) of candidates:
The PKR President Dr Wan Azizah gave the mandate in
writing to Azmin on 22 April to honour state autonomy and give a mandate to
state leader Baru Bian to resolve all matters, i.e. seat negotiation and
decision on candidates.
Baru Bian on 22 April announced only 35 seats instead of
42 seats because five seats were still in negotiation with DAP while two were
yet to finalise candidates. This showed PKR were still hopeful that DAP would
continue to negotiate and avoid 3-cornered fights.
4. Decision
on 3-cornered fights:
The last PKR Biro Politik meeting decided to give highest
priority to seat negotiations, but the party was ready to enter 3-cornered
fights if the negotiations failed.
Azmin kept engaging with Guan Eng and proposed to resolve
the five seats with three seats under PKR and two seats under DAP to avoid a
3-cornered fight. But Guan Eng refused to consider any amicable resolution to
avoid a 3-cornered fight.
5. BN is
the REAL threat
The failure of negotiations between PKR and DAP is
regrettable, as are the arguments after. However, we must come together now and
face the true threat to Malaysia’s future, Barisan Nasional.
We must honour the core principle of straight one-to-one
contests endorsed by the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council, as spelled out
in Clause 5.5 of the Pakatan Harapan Agreement.
Sarawak Nomination 2016 is a lesson that we must redouble
our efforts to work together to serve the people.
6. It is
not too late for straight fights
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on DAP and PKR to not
give up on negotiating. We still have a chance before election day to fulfil
the people’s expectations of us to present one-to-one fights against BN.
We have always been ready to give diplomacy a chance, and
we stand ready to give it a second chance, with a spirit of fair compromise,
give and take, for a higher cause: state and national reform. Are our coalition
partners willing to do the same? - April 26, 2016
DATUK DR MANSOR OTHMAN
Ahli Biro Politik Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Pengerusi Majlis Pimpinan Pulau Pinang Parti Keadilan
Rakyat
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