GE15: PKR to contest 'traditional seats' of Sembrong, Tapah and Sg Siput, says Rafizi

JOHOR BARU: PKR will be contesting the Sembrong, Tapah and Sungai Siput seats in the 15th General Election (GE15) as they are its traditional seats since 2004, says Rafizi Ramli.

The PKR deputy president said that the party has a better chance of winning the three seats.

"The matter has been misunderstood by certain quarters. We will be contesting Sembrong, Sungai Siput and Tapah.

ALSO READ: Rafizi: PKR still negotiating for Sungai Siput, Tapah and Sembrong seats

"It was just that when we announced our candidates, the negotiations with Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) had not been concluded.

"It would not be nice for us to make an announcement with talks still going on.

"The decision was finalised on Saturday (Oct 29) following a discussion with Pakatan Harapan leadership.

"Sembrong has been our seat for a long time but when people ask for it, we need to listen to them and give them space.

"We listened and the final decision was for PKR to hold on to the seat as we have better chances of winning," he told reporters after a ceramah in Taman Gaya, Tebrau here on Sunday (Oct 30) night.

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

Asked if there was still a possibility of seats being reassigned to other parties, he said this was unlikely.

"These are seats where PKR has a (history) of 20 years, including in terms of machinery, grassroots and elections.

"For example in Sembrong, we have managed to reduce the majority of Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein year by year.

"With our track record, it is not possible for us to give up the seat just because others think they have a chance of winning.

"But we could not be (arrogant) and say no straight away," he added.

ALSO READ: Hishammuddin wants to defend his Sembrong MP seat

During the PKR candidate announcement on Friday (Oct 28), Rafizi said the party was still negotiating with coalition partners and allies over Sungai Siput, Tapah and Sembrong.

Perak Muda chairman Mutalib Uthman had claimed in a statement that he would be contesting the Tapah seat.

However, party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim later clarified that the seat will remain with PKR, along with the other two seats, after a round of discussions.