Seat negotiations among Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat component parties appears to be going south with Sarawak National Party (Snap) announcing 16 candidates ahead of other parties.

The party said that this was necessary because PKR was staking claims to 52 seats and leaving them with only three.

snap pc kuching 050311 edwin dundang "We will tell them that we are staking claims to these 16 seats with the announcement of the candidates," said Snap president Edwin Dundang  ( left in photo ) during a press conference today.

He said that from here on, it was up to PKR to come forward and talk to Snap as the party still hopes to avoid multi-corner fights.

He confirmed that there has been no discussion with Pakatan on seat allocations since Mar ch 6 , where it was decided that parties will conclude seat talks by March 20.

"We don't know where PKR wants to contest and who their candidates are... so, there are bound to clashes of candidates from Snap and PKR as well as BN," he said.

Dundang said the possible clashes over seats between Snap and PKR will dampen the efforts of Pakatan to oust BN from power.

"I think the clashes will strengthen the efforts to capture the state government as people on the ground know that we are ready for it," he said.

Snap still hopes for straight fights

Dundang added that it is the fervent hope of the party that there would be one to one contests between PR and BN in all the 71 seats.

Previously, Snap's secretary-general Stanley Jugol Sandin had said that the party will " swim and sink " with Pakatan.

azlan However, he said PKR was arrogant for unilaterally taking the role as a leading opposition party in Sarawak.

"They want to contest in 52 seats and tell us that we should contest in three seats. PKR's attempt to gloss over this major difference and riding roughshod against Snap is unwarranted and unbecoming," he said.

"PKR, after participating in three parliamentary and two state elections, involving a total of 74 candidates, has only managed to win one state seat.

"It is also a fact that PKR has had little impact in native-majority areas ever since it first contested in Sarawak," he said.

He said with such a history, he hope that PKR will cooperate with Snap to ensure Pakatan's victory in the state elections expected to be called soon.

"We have told PKR of its shortcomings at various meetings, but to no avail. Even at the eleventh hour, they still insist of contesting in 52 seats at our expense, and without substantive grounds to support their stand," he said.

However, Dundang stressed that the party has no issues with DAP and PAS.

Snap aiming to field 40 candidates

For now, Dundang said Snap intends to contest 40 seats. Thus far, 16 names and corresponding seats have been announced.

"But the number could be more as more and more members have requested that we contest in many seats," he said.

Dundang said the party is announcing its candidates early as it is easier for them to begin preparations.

"This is also make known of our candidates earlier, though we do not know when the state elections will be held," he explained.

Dundang stated his intention to contest in Marudi while his deputy, Kebing Wan, will stand in Telang Usan.

Former Sessions Court judge Augustine Liom, who is also Snap vice president, has been nominated to contest in Machan, while another vice-president, Anthony Liman Sujang, will go for Krian.

Youth chief Dayrell Walter Entrie will contest in Bukit Saban.

The other candidates are Stephen Sigar (Opar), Frankie Jurem Nyumboi ( Tasik Biru) Richard Peter Munai (Bengoh), Slyvester Belayong (Kedup), Abang Othman Abang Gom (Lingga), Dan Giang (Balai Ringgin), Joe Unggang (Layar), Tedong Gunda alias Jamal Abdullah (Pakan), George Lagong (Baleh), John Bampa (Belaga) and Johari Bujang (Lambir).