Uncertainty for Muda as PKR set to announce all 20 Johor candidates

Uncertainty for Muda as PKR set to announce all 20 Johor candidates


JOHOR POLLS | PKR is set to announce candidates for all 20 seats that it has been allocated by Pakatan Harapan tomorrow, according to an invitation from its state chapter.

This raised questions about whether the PKR's negotiations with Muda have broken down.

PKR leaders have been tight-lipped about the matter while Muda leaders said they have yet to be informed of the outcome.

According to the invitation signed by Johor PKR secretary Naim Jusri (above), the candidates are divided across South, Central and Northern Johor, including Larkin, Gambir and Sri Medan - three seats said to be in a deadlock with Muda.

Eight candidates will be announced at the Thistle Hotel, Johor Bahru, five candidates at the N25 Rengit PKR command centre, and seven others at the Pelican Hotel, Batu Pahat.

"It is requested that every state constituency involved be present at the functions with 20 members," said Naim.

When contacted, Johor Muda chief Mohd Azrol Ab Rahani said the state chapter has yet to be informed of a final decision made on Muda's request for three seats from PKR to contest in.

Amanah and DAP concluded their negotiations with Muda on Feb 9, providing them with a total of six seats.

Johor Muda chief Mohd Azrol Ab Rahani


"We will see on the announcement day whether PKR will mention candidates in the seats.

"Now the discussions are at the central level, between presidents. At the state level, Muda has stated our demands, so now we wait for a decision," Azrol told Malaysiakini.

Seat negotiations

Sources familiar with the negotiations previously said Muda's demands for Gambir and Larkin are too hard to swallow, and PKR was instead willing to offer the Umno strongholds of Sri Medan, Semarang and Benut.

It was previously established that the ground rule for the seat negotiations is that any seat sought by Muda cannot be from the ones that PKR had contested in the 2018 general election.

This leaves seats contested by Bersatu but was reallocated to PKR after the former quit Pakatan Harapan.

Quizzed on Muda's next move, Azrol said it would depend on PKR's decision, citing PKR president Anwar Ibrahim initial invitation to form a united opposition in Johor.

Meanwhile, Johor PKR chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the party has gone ahead with preparations to announce 20 candidates after Muda's refusal to accept the offered seats.

"In this challenging state polls, it is important to start work early so candidates can make their preparations as soon as they have been announced.

"An offer was made and time was given (to consider). Until now there has been no change from Muda, so we went ahead with our preparations," the Ledang MP told Malaysiakini.

Separately, another PKR source privy about the negotiations indicated that any announcements made tomorrow will be the final decision on the matter.

"Tomorrow we shall see," said the source.

Nomination day has been set for Feb 26 while Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12.

Additional reporting by Fion Yap