KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR has strongly refuted Umno's claims that seat allocations have been finalised between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan for the upcoming state election.
Its state information chief, Razeef Rakimin, described the statement by Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir as “misleading and false.”
“We don’t know where Suhaimi got the figure of 40 seats (for Barisan) and who he discussed this with,” Razeef said in a statement on Thursday (May 1).
He stated that although informal meetings may have taken place, there has been no formal negotiation between Barisan and Pakatan, let alone a conclusive agreement on seat distribution.
“I have confirmed with all Pakatan leaders — no such talks have taken place,” he said.
Razeef also criticised Sabah Barisan leaders for repeatedly issuing unilateral statements on political cooperation without engaging in actual discussions with Pakatan.
“Barisan leaders in Sabah have made statements like this multiple times despite never meeting with Pakatan, let alone discussing these matters,” he said.
Razeef, who is also deputy chief of PKR’s national information bureau, said that Sabah PKR and Pakatan are open to working with any party that shares a common vision for the state, but stressed that such matters must be discussed in official meetings, not through the media.
On Thursday (May 1), Suhaimi had said that BN would contest 40 seats while the remaining 33 would be allocated to Pakatan, based on an understanding that respects incumbency and grassroots strength.
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Suhaimi also claimed that there would be no overlaps in candidacy as both sides had reached a consensus, echoing an agreement allegedly made during a retreat in Penang last year.
However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has also previously clarified that no official decision has been made on Sabah-level cooperation between the two coalitions.
