PKR will contest 48 seats in the Sarawak election, with a high possibility of squaring off with Snap in taking on BN.

It appears that there are overlapping claims to 26 seats between PKR and Snap, which is Sarawak's oldest political party.

NONE In announcing the PKR seats in Sibu this morning, de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim also indicated his uneasiness with the Snap.

However, he sidestepped questions as to whether Snap is still a part of Pakatan Rakyat.

"Snap, at federal level, was never a part of Pakatan. But at the state level, we have an arrangement to end (state chief minister Abdul) Taib Mahmud's regime. But we are not breaking off ties, not yet," he said.

His previous comments about Snap's role in Pakatan were much clearer.

"Pakatan has a very clear stand. No Pakatan candidate can stand against another Pakatan candidate, and we give full support to our partners and candidates from DAP and PAS," he said, stopping short of naming the local party.

While a three-way contests seem to be on the cards now, this could very well change on nomination day - Wednesday - when potential candidates may either pull out of the polls, or be disqualified from contesting.

But whether Pakatan or PKR would lend their machinery to Snap appears to be highly improbable.

“There is no understanding for us the help in the work for their seats,” said Anwar.

‘Not contesting out of respect’

Asked if Pakatan was still confident of its winning formula for a significant victory in the state polls, Anwar said he believed Sarawakians were alert to the need to change.

NONE “We have a major battle with BN this time around and we don’t want to allow any false party to sabotage our efforts, and this is in no reference to Snap...

“Since 2004, after I left prison, I've never felt this kind of reception and sentiment on the ground. There’s this mood of growing acceptance for Pakatan and no one can deny that this is the first time in the history of Sarawak that BN is facing a formidable challenge,” he said.

However, party vice-president Tian Chua was more diplomatic, saying that PKR would not contest in Marudi out of ‘respect’ for Snap president Edwin Dundang, who will be contesting the seat.

“They have really put us in a difficult position and we’re not sure if they are sincere in delivering any real contest. But with great exception and respect to (Edwin), we are not fielding a candidate against him,” Tian Chua said at the same press conference.

Fellow PKR vice-president Fuziah Salleh also said that despite the multi-cornered fights expected between PKR, Snap and BN, she believed this would not split the votes for the opposition.

“Snap will take the majority from BN, not us. So our votes should be safe,” she said.

Snap had earlier announced that it would contest in 27 Dayak-majority seats, breaking off its pact with PKR after the two failed to compromise in seat negotiations.

While Snap had insisted that they had the right to contest on the historical basis that they are the only local party in the opposition pact, PKR had claimed that Snap intially agreed to only six seats, before spiking their demand to 27 after the state assembly was dissolved.

Pakatan to contest 68 seats

pkr southern region announcement 040411 azmin ali For now, it appears that with DAP contesting 15 seats and PAS contesting five, Pakatan Rakyat would be contesting a total of 68 of the 71 seats. 

In Kuching, PKR deputy president Mohd Azmin Ali (right) confirmed that PKR would not be contesting in Marudi, Pakan and Jemoring.

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He claimed that Snap wanted Iban candidates from PKR to contest on Snap tickets, but PKR could not agree to this because PKR is a multiracial party representing all races.

"As a multi-racial party, PKR needs to put up candidates from the Iban community," he said.

"We tried to reach consenus with Snap, but failed. But nevertheless, we still give respect to them by not contesting in Pakan and Marudi," he said. 

Snap is believed to be fielding candidates in Marudi and Pakan, which would be contested by PRS chief James Masing and SPDP chief William Mawan, respectively.

Since no opposition party has voiced its decision to contest in Jemoring, a BN walkover looks inevitable.

Attempts to obtain an updated list of candidates from Snap were unsuccessful.

Comparing PKR's list to Snap's list released earlier, it appears that there are 26 seats in which both parties will be contesting (left chart) .

Exercise restraint, Anwar tells dropped candidates