The component parties of the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition are still in the dark as to whether the DAP would formally ask for assistance.

A statement from the Pahang BA today said its leaders were willing to help but there had been no formal request from DAP.

"BA has stated its willingness to help and contribute, but only if there is a formal request from DAP," reads the statement.

However, it called on voters in Ketari to give their support to DAP candidate Choong Siew Onn.

Jointly signed by PAS Pahang liaison secretary Dr Abdul Wahab Ismail, Keadilan state liaison chief Mohd Jafri Abdul Rashid and PRM Pahang chairperson Dzulkifli Ismail, the statement stressed that there should be an additional opposition seat in the Pahang state assembly.

"BA feels that it is important [for Ketari] to represent the interests of the Chinese in the Pahang state assembly," the statement said.

Endorsing DAP

Last week, the BA presidential council issued a joint press statement endorsing the DAP candidate in Ketari even though the DAP had criticised the opposition coalition during the Indera Kayangan by-election held in January.

The DAP left the BA last year when it failed to resolve the Islamic state issue with Islam-based PAS.

There has since been a war of words between DAP and its former BA partners leading to its refusal to campaign for Keadilan in Indera Kayangan.

The Ketari by-election which will be held on March 31, will see a straight fight between Gerakan's Yum Ah Ha and DAP's Choong Siew Onn.

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

The Barisan Nasional candidate won with a 231-vote majority in the 1999 general elections, beating Choong.

Ketari has 17,143 registered voters, of which 95 are postal votes. Chinese Malaysians comprise 53.83 percent (9,228) of the constituency, Malay Malaysians 39.12 percent (6,706) and Indian Malaysians 5.21 percent (843).

The Orang Asli comprise 1.3 percent (223), bumiputra from Sabah and Sarawak 0.21 percent (36) and others 0.33 percent (57).