Unless an agreement materialises, opposition allies Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP may be involved in three-cornered fights with Barisan Nasional (BN) when the Sarawak parliamentary election rolls around.

PKR's sole elected representative Dominique Ng raised this spectre today when announcing that the party would contest at least 13 of the 32 parliamentary seats, including seats held by the DAP.

The statement was apparently partly in response to the state DAP chief's remarks that the selection committee had decided on Voon Lee Shan, the state assemblyperson for Batu Lintang, as its candidate for Stampin.

Ng disclosed the 13 seats are Petra Jaya, Santubong, Batang Sadong, Kota Samarahan, Sibuti, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Lanang, Sibu ,Miri , Mambong and Julau.

He added that the party may contest in more non-Muslim bumiputera seats.

A political observer said this appears to be a signal to PKR leaders that the two parties should negotiate.

"I don't think DAP will want to see three-cornered fights," he said.

DAP state secretary and Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, at a separate press conference, claimed that PKR has marginalised Chinese Malaysian members and that national leaders would be the ones to decide the list of candidates.

He had said earlier that the DAP would not make a pact with any opposition party that has links with Islamic party PAS.

Ng told reporters that he knows several top DAP leaders, including Lim Kit Siang, are frequently in touch with PAS national leaders.

He expressed worry over the state DAP's stance against negotiation.

If the two parties fail to reach compromise, three-cornered fights appear likely in the Chinese-majority seats of Lanang, Sibu, Sarikei and Miri as well.