PKR willing to talk with SAPP

PKR willing to join hands with BN’s foes

As far as the party is concerned, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and PKR is currently in talks with SAPP to form an electoral pact.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat lynchpin PKR has no qualms in forging an electoral alliance with parties that share a “common enemy”– Barisan Nasional (BN).
One of those negotiating a possible electoral pact is the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said PKR vice-president Tian Chua.

Tian said PKR has maintained good relations with the party which quit BN in September 2008 to become independent after a fallout with the ruling coalition’s top leadership.

SAPP, led by former Sabah chief minister, Yong Teck Lee, has accused BN of neglecting the East Malaysian state and failing to eradicate poverty there.

“Any party fighting for change should work together,” Tian told a press conference here today.

On the talks with SAPP, he said no agreement has been reached but the Batu MP is confident of a positive outcome.

“We hope to reach it before the 13th general election,” he said.

It is widely speculated that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will hold snap polls by year-end.

Can PKR work it out?

PKR’s track record in forming electoral alliances with East Malaysian parties have so far been disastrous.

In the recently concluded Sarawak election that saw Pakatan make significant inroads in what is known as BN’s “fixed deposit” state, talks between PKR and the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) collapsed after the former was accused of arm-twisting.

PKR leaders denied the allegation and blamed the failed talks on SNAP’s “arrogance” instead.

The party’s Sabah chapter is also known to be plagued with infighting.

Currently, SAPP has two MPs and two state assemblymen. Winning Sabah and Sarawak is key to realising Pakatan’s quest to wrest Putrajaya in the next general election.

Reveal findings of landslide probe

On a separate matter, Tian urged the government to be more transparent and reveal the findings of its probes on illegal hillslope developments.

The demand comes as the nation mourns the deaths of 16 orphans in a landslide tragedy in Hulu Langat, Selangor, last Saturday.

BN and Pakatan, which now controls Selangor, are racing for votes with both fighting to give bigger cash compensation to those affected. The state will be the key battleground for Najib’s quest for a stronger mandate.

Tian said the government must not repeat its move to classify the findings of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide in 2008 which destroyed 14 bungalows and forced 2,000 residents to be evacuated.

“The findings must be made available to the public. Enforcement law will be much more effective if the public knows,” he said.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid (FMT)