PKR told off for demanding more seats, reflecting new problems for PH in pact with Umno

Umno has questioned its ally PKR's quest to contest more seats in Terengganu, in what could be a reflection of seat negotiations between the former enemies in other states as well.

Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said PKR should "know its place" in asking to be given more seats at the coming state polls.

"How many branches does PKR have? Who are its leaders?" the former menteri besar told reporters yesterday.

He gave the example of Jabi, one of the seats that he said PKR wished to contest, where Umno lost narrowly to PAS by 55 votes at the 2018 election. 

He said PKR could not assume that just because it had 300 members there, it stood a chance of winning.

"How can it be like that? Do those from Umno agree?

"The formula is not correct. If you want it, you have to want all of it. Don't just take what is glamorous. 

"Show your strength, how many branches you have, and how many members," he said. 

A source in Umno told MalaysiaNow that Ahmad's remarks were only the tip of a wider problem faced by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in finalising seats.

The two coalitions have agreed not to clash with each other in the six states where polls will be held in the coming months.

"PH is saying the same to Umno in Selangor. Umno has been demanding some seats that have long been the fort of PH, but so far PH has told them to take a hike."

The source, who is familiar with Umno's seat talks with PH, said Umno was not happy at being relegated to Malay-majority seats, where it might be trashed again by Perikatan Nasional.

"It is seeking at least some semi-urban and urban seats, hoping that PH can sacrifice their winnable seats so that BN can have a say in the state administration in the event that PH is retained," the source added.

While top PH and BN leaders say seat negotiations have been going well, there has been no concrete outcome of their talks.

As recently as last week, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who is leading the talks with Umno, had been mum on the numbers.

"No comment on the details but talks are going well," he was quoted as saying on Thursday after emerging from three hours of discussion with Umno leaders, including Ahmad.

The 2018 election, which took place against the backdrop of the 1MDB scandal and saw BN ejected from federal power, saw PH parties at their best performance, with PKR winning half of the 56 seats, followed by DAP (14) and Amanah (5).

Umno candidates meanwhile won in four Malay-majority seats.

It is understood that seat negotiations between Umno and PH parties have also hit a snag in Kedah, an important and strategic state in the quest for Malay support.

Some 36 seats in the state are the focus of talks between PH and BN.

A source said PKR and Amanah's demands for more seats had upset negotiations, with Umno leaders insisting they should be given the lion's share.

"Every party demands for more seats. That is how negotiations go. I told my friends, don't listen if people want to ask for more seats, because our technique is the same," said Kedah PH chief Mahfuz Omar.