DAP today said it has received a positive response from Keadilan and PAS to the idea of joining forces against Barisan Nasional for the upcoming Ketari by-election in Pahang.

Party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said although DAP is capable of handling Ketari on its own, opposition supporters would like to see the parties join hands.

The DAP leader added he has met with PAS president Fadzil Noor and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to discuss the matter.

We have discussed the issue and their response has been positive. You can be confident that Keadilan and PAS will be at the by-election, he told malaysiakini .

Kerk said his party welcomed the assistance from any political parties, non-governmental organisations and civil society in the by-election.

Asked about DAPs chances, he replied: Overall, the chances are there. Its a tough battle.

The March 31 by-election will see DAPs Choong Siew Onn taking on Barisan Nasionals Yum Ah Ha.

The Ketari state seat fell vacant following the death of its representative, Loke Koon Kam of Gerakan.

High stakes

When met at Parliament later, Kerk said DAP was unable to assist Keadilan during Januarys Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis, which was won by BN, because the party would not have been able to raise certain issues.

What DAP said would have been unfavourable to the BA at that time, he said.

DAP withdrew from the BA last September after a row with PAS over the Muslim-based partys ambition to set up an Islamic state should it come into power.

Asked if whether BAs assistance would affect DAPs chances at Ketari, the DAP leader said there will be an onslaught from BN claiming DAPs exit from BA was a sandiwara (charade).

Kerk said the stakes in Ketari were high.Gerakan cannot afford to lose, especially after BN won in Indera Kayangan. [MCAs deputy president] Lim Ah Lek also cannot afford to lose. That is his area, he said.

He added the upcoming by-election has generated a lot of excitement in DAP. This is the first time we are contesting [in an election] since the 1999 general elections. We only used to be a side-show, he said.

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang declined to comment about the by-election.