GE15: Muda says not contesting in Tapah to avoid multi-cornered fights with Pakatan

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has clarified that it will not be fielding any candidates in the Tapah parliamentary seat.

This follows after its Perak Youth chief Mutalib Uthman had announced his candidacy for the seat on Facebook.

Party information chief Luqman Long said that the seat belonged to Pakatan Harapan.

"As of Oct 29, Muda announced three seats, namely Kepala Batas, Tanjung Karang and Tanjung Piai parliamentary seats.

"The Muda-Pakatan discussion regarding the seat allocations were finalised on the same day," said Luqman in a statement on Sunday (Oct 30).

In a now deleted post, Mutalib said his candidacy was a result of discussions with Pakatan and after a statement made by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli on the status of the Tapah and Sembrong parliamentary seats.

Luqman added that it remained committed to avoid any multi-cornered fights between the Muda and Pakatan.

"Any contradictory statements against the Muda-Pakatan commitment is not the official stand of the party," he added

Last night (Oct 29), Muda announced the first three parliamentary seats that it would contest in the 15th General Election.

In announcing the seats, Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz announced teacher Siti Rahayu Baharin as the party’s contender against Selangor Barisan Nasional chief and incumbent MP Tan Sri Noh Omar in Tanjung Karang.

Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet will contest in Tanjung Piai in Johor against MCA incumbent Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng.

The party also fielded Muhammad Danial Abdul Majeed in Kepala Batas which would see a fight against incumbent MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

Seat negotiations with Pakatan have also been finalised and its electoral pact would be formalised soon, added the statement.

Muda, it noted, was expected to contest in one parliamentary seat in Sabah, with the announcement set to be made on Monday (Oct 31), while whether party president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman would defend Muar would be announced next Wednesday (Nov 2).