PETALING JAYA: A Melaka DAP leader is puzzled by a PKR leader laying claim to the seat of Ayer Keroh – a DAP stronghold – for the Nov 14 polls in Melaka.
Kerk Chee Yee, who was Ayer Keroh assemblyman from 2018 until the legislature's dissolution last month, said seat negotiations within Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) were completed some time ago.
"I don’t know what lies behind the statement. Ayer Keroh is among the eight seats allocated to DAP to contest, pending the announcement of candidates.
"I would also like to urge all parties (in PH) to keep seat arrangements or their ‘wishlist’ behind closed doors, as there are other issues that better serve the public interest that should be discussed publicly," he told FMT.
On Sunday, PKR's Azman Abidin said the party was eyeing eight to nine seats in the Melaka polls, including Ayer Keroh.
It has been speculated that Azman, the federal territories PKR chief, will be fielded in Paya Rumput.
When contacted, he confirmed that Ayer Keroh was among the seats targeted by PKR, though he said "there might be changes".
DAP wrested Ayer Keroh from Barisan Nasional in 2008 through Khoo Poay Tiong, the current Melaka DAP chief, who was elected to a second term in 2013.
Kerk was elected Ayer Keroh assemblyman in 2018 and helped PH retain the seat in the 2021 Melaka polls, winning with a majority of 5,624 votes against candidates from Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.