Federal Territories DAP won't yield to BN's 'impossible' seat demand
Cha Zhi Ting
Published: Nov 26, 2024 6:06 PM
Several DAP lawmakers in Kuala Lumpur have vowed to stand their ground and not yield to BN’s “impossible” demand for the party’s parliamentary seats.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun were responding to BN's aim of contesting five Federal Territories constituencies in the next general election.
Kok stressed that they would not concede their seats, however, she believes that BN would not seek to contest seats that DAP has already secured.
“They know they won’t win, and they also know we won’t give in,” she told Malaysiakini.
Fong (above, right) echoed the same stance, making it clear that they would not allow BN to contest DAP-held constituencies even if it meant this would affect the cooperation between the ruling government parties.
“(BN wanting to contest) constituencies DAP won is simply impossible.
“If they (BN) insist on fighting for it (my constituency), we’ll (DAP) fall out with them, for sure,” he said.
Can BN even win?
Tan took a shot at BN, saying that if it wished to take over DAP’s seats in Kuala Lumpur, it must be a coalition capable of winning.
“In the 2022 15th general election, Umno practically lost everything in the Federal Territories, except for Titiwangsa.
“Moreover, BN’s vote count is far lower than ours,” he pointed out.
He further noted that in the last national polls, BN candidates even lost their deposits, and the only reason Umno’s Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani managed to win his seat was due to his personal reputation and prominence.
“Of course, they can make any suggestions, but the possibility is slim. As for DAP’s five seats, we will certainly continue to defend them.
“I believe that in the national context of seat allocations, the leadership of Pakatan Harapan and BN should have the wisdom to make the most appropriate decisions,” Tan said.
In addition, he suggested that Kuala Lumpur be excluded when discussing seat allocations, as it is a Harapan stronghold.
BN wants five FT seats
BN is eyeing five parliamentary seats in the Federal Territories.
Yesterday, BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said discussions will be held with Madani coalition partners to finalise the seat allocation.
The Federal Territories consist of 13 parliamentary seats, including Putrajaya and Labuan.
PKR and DAP each hold five seats, Umno and Bersatu have one seat each - Titiwangsa and Putrajaya respectively; while an independent lawmaker holds one seat which is Labuan.
The DAP constituencies are Kepong, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, and Cheras; while the constituencies under PKR are Batu, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Bandar Tun Razak, and Lembah Pantai.
Even if BN gets to contest Titiwangsa, Putrajaya, and Labuan, it would still need Harapan to concede two of its seats for Zahid to get his demand of five Federal Territories seats.
Published: Nov 26, 2024 6:06 PM
Several DAP lawmakers in Kuala Lumpur have vowed to stand their ground and not yield to BN’s “impossible” demand for the party’s parliamentary seats.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun were responding to BN's aim of contesting five Federal Territories constituencies in the next general election.
Kok stressed that they would not concede their seats, however, she believes that BN would not seek to contest seats that DAP has already secured.
“They know they won’t win, and they also know we won’t give in,” she told Malaysiakini.
Fong (above, right) echoed the same stance, making it clear that they would not allow BN to contest DAP-held constituencies even if it meant this would affect the cooperation between the ruling government parties.
“(BN wanting to contest) constituencies DAP won is simply impossible.
“If they (BN) insist on fighting for it (my constituency), we’ll (DAP) fall out with them, for sure,” he said.
Can BN even win?
Tan took a shot at BN, saying that if it wished to take over DAP’s seats in Kuala Lumpur, it must be a coalition capable of winning.
“In the 2022 15th general election, Umno practically lost everything in the Federal Territories, except for Titiwangsa.
“Moreover, BN’s vote count is far lower than ours,” he pointed out.
He further noted that in the last national polls, BN candidates even lost their deposits, and the only reason Umno’s Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani managed to win his seat was due to his personal reputation and prominence.
“Of course, they can make any suggestions, but the possibility is slim. As for DAP’s five seats, we will certainly continue to defend them.
“I believe that in the national context of seat allocations, the leadership of Pakatan Harapan and BN should have the wisdom to make the most appropriate decisions,” Tan said.
In addition, he suggested that Kuala Lumpur be excluded when discussing seat allocations, as it is a Harapan stronghold.
BN wants five FT seats
BN is eyeing five parliamentary seats in the Federal Territories.
Yesterday, BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said discussions will be held with Madani coalition partners to finalise the seat allocation.
The Federal Territories consist of 13 parliamentary seats, including Putrajaya and Labuan.
PKR and DAP each hold five seats, Umno and Bersatu have one seat each - Titiwangsa and Putrajaya respectively; while an independent lawmaker holds one seat which is Labuan.
The DAP constituencies are Kepong, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, and Cheras; while the constituencies under PKR are Batu, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Bandar Tun Razak, and Lembah Pantai.
Even if BN gets to contest Titiwangsa, Putrajaya, and Labuan, it would still need Harapan to concede two of its seats for Zahid to get his demand of five Federal Territories seats.
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