Pakatan delaying candidate list due to coalition clashes, admits Nurul

(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) delay in announcing its candidate line up despite launching its manifesto two months ago is due to clashes between certain quarters within the coalition, admitted Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

"That is true. It is a challenge for us and we are doing our best in this difficult situation," she said at the PKR Klinik Rakyat medical camp programme at Kampung Kerinchi on Sunday.

She said the staggered announcement of candidates by PR as opposed to the releasing a complete candidate list was due to key factors the leadership had to consider.

"The most important is the winnability factor and we have to take that into account.

"We must also ensure that in the end, the people are able to choose a party that they can trust. If we make a mistake, it will cost us dearly in the upcoming polls," she added.

Ms Nurul, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, described the issue as "teething problems" that will be addressed by PR.

She was asked to comment on PR's staggered candidate announcement despite launching its election manifesto on Feb 25, resulting in clashes within certain opposition camps.

Last Wednesday, PR failed to resolve seat negotiations despite assurances that the matter was finalised by its leadership council.

It was learned from an opposition party official that PKR will unveil its candidate list at a function in Bandar Tun Razak on April 10.

Several quarters within the coalition, including its Sabah allies Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), have been at odds following the staggered announcement of candidates.

The unhappiness was seen following the public tussle for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in Johor between Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng and his Democratic Action Party (DAP) counterpart Dr Boo Cheng Hau, which was finally resolved when DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang annouced he would contest there.

Rumblings were also heard following Parti Islam SeMalaysia's (PAS) recent announcement that it would be fielding candidates in the Kangar and Temerloh parliamentary constituencies with PKR announcing later that it would be taking over the Bera, Labuan and Setiawangsa seats.

Sabah PKR also pre-empted any hijacking of seats when it hastily announced its seven candidates for the state's west coast region last Wednesday.