Gerakan Taken Aback By Demand For Pas Kota Lama Seat

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Gerakan is distancing itself from its Kelantan assistant secretary Gan Thuan Bun's statement that the party should be allowed to contest the Kota Lama state seat in the next general election.

The seat has been held for several terms by its new ally PAS, after Gerakan joined the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition just last week.
Gerakan secretary-general Mak Kah Keong (above) described Gan’s demand as "shocking", and was beyond the party central leadership's knowledge and expectations.

He denied the party intends to contest the seat located in Kota Bahru, Kelantan.

“It is still early to discuss any issue relating to electoral seat allocation, and the matter should be decided by the party’s central leadership,” he said in a statement today.

Instead, Mak said Gerakan and Perikatan National’s (PN) main agenda is to protect the people’s welfare and help revive the economy as soon as possible, rather than engaging in seat negotiations.

Gerakan, which had quit BN following a poor showing at the 14th general election, joined PN on Feb 11.
Two days later, New Straits Times quoted Gan as saying that Gerakan should be allowed to contest the Kota Lama seat.

"Most of the voters there are Chinese. We hope to be given the chance to run for the seat in the 15th general election,” he reportedly told the English daily.

PAS deputy spiritual leader Ahmad Yakob

Gan’s remarks were quickly rebuked by PAS deputy spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob.

“Gerakan has merely reached the level of a 'kindergartener' (within PN).

“The party needs to learn more (about PN's electoral composition) before making such a request,” Ahmad was quoted as saying yesterday by New Straits Times.

The Kota Lama seat has been held by PAS’ Tan Teng Loon @ Anuar Tan Abdullah since 1999.
During the last election, he defeated contenders from Bersatu, MCA, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, and an independent candidate to secure a 1,445-vote majority.

At the time, 65 percent of the Kota Lama electorate were Malay, while 33 percent were Chinese Malaysians. - Mkini

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