Divisions surface as parties engage in heated debate and disagreement.

PETALING JAYA: With just five days left until nomination day for the upcoming state elections, political parties are already experiencing discontent. The tension arises from a conflict within the same alliance over the allocation of certain seats and the announcement of mentri besar candidates.

However, political scientists argue that such disagreements are normal during this stage of the elections. They expect the top leaders of the coalitions to engage in negotiations and reach compromises among the parties in the coming days.

So far, two potential sources of conflict have emerged between allies in the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan factions, following recent candidate announcements.

Barisan and Pakatan, former rivals, have now formed an alliance for the state elections as well as in the federal unity government.

On Saturday, it was reported that Amanah, a Pakatan party, is upset with Barisan’s decision to field a candidate in the Lenggeng seat in Negri Sembilan, which Amanah won in 2018.

Amanah is also requesting to field candidates in Terengganu’s Bandar and Tepuh seats, which Barisan has already claimed.

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Meanwhile, PKR, another Pakatan party, expressed its desire to retain Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun as Mentri Besar in Negri Sembilan, if the coalition successfully defends the state. However, Barisan is adamant that the post should only be decided after the elections.

Barisan has announced that it will field 107 candidates in the 245 state seats to be contested in the Aug 12 elections in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan.

Pakatan’s PKR has declared it will contest 58 seats, while Amanah is fielding candidates in 31 seats and is requesting two more. Their partner, DAP, is expected to reveal its candidates in stages over the next few days.

As of now, DAP has only announced its candidates in Negri Sembilan, with the list for Penang set to be unveiled tomorrow.

Former Pakatan ally, Muda, is contesting 20 seats independently and will face Pakatan in five seats in Selangor – Kota Anggerik, Seri Setia, Sungai Kandis, Bukit Antarabangsa, and Sentosa – as well as three seats in Penang, namely Batu Uban, Perai, and Pantai Jerejak.

Perikatan Nasional, the opposition coalition, has announced seat distribution among its component parties, with PAS contesting 126 seats, Bersatu 83, and Gerakan 36. However, they are yet to reveal their list of candidates.

Dr Mazlan Ali, a political scientist, stated that discontent among political partners is expected at this stage, as grassroots members always make demands on their leaders.

“This tug-of-war over seats is always about political mileage and survival,” he said, referring to the Lenggeng seat that Umno now wishes to reclaim after losing it to Amanah in the 2018 election.

“Ultimately, the top leaders will make the final decision whenever there are disagreements – as they have done in previous elections,” said Mazlan from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung expressed no concern over overlapping seats or internal sabotage, stating that the party has resolved all seat issues with its allies in the unity government.

“We have allocated seats based on each other’s strengths. We have many things we want to achieve and so, we have prepared enough space for everyone to contribute, either as candidates or in other roles,” he said.

Another political scientist, Prof James Chin, echoed these sentiments, stating that he does not anticipate these disagreements will affect the parties’ ability to campaign during the elections.

“These disagreements will be resolved before nomination day. Local leaders who are unhappy about not being fielded may defect or run as independents. However, their numbers will be very small,” said Prof Chin of the University of Tasmania.

Prof Chin added that, in these polls, the emergence of a third force challenging the dominance of Barisan-Pakatan and Perikatan is more important than the seat scramble.

“In the 15th General Election (last year), Pejuang attempted this, but it did not succeed.

“Now, Muda is attempting to be a third force, but it is targeting Pakatan seats.

“To me, this is more interesting than the scramble over seats,” he concluded.