The DAP will meet PKR leaders, including its president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail here tonight to decide on the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) candidate for the Sibu parliamentary seat by-election.

State DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng said the result of the discussion would only be announced by PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to the constituency on April 18.

pkr supreme council meeting 0404010 wan azizah He dismissed a news report today quoting Wan Azizah as insisting that her party be allowed to represent PR.

Wong told reporters this after chairing a meeting with DAP local leaders together with Kidurong assemblyman Chiu Ching Sing today.

He also read out to reporters a short message sent to his handphone by Wan Azizah ( right ) clarifying the news report which she said had been manipulated.

Wong strongly believed that his party would represent PR in the by-election.

"We are going to field a very strong candidate chosen from the six new faces we have groomed in anticipation of the coming state election.

"They, including former SUPP Dudong branch protem secretary Wong Chin Yong who recently joined us, have for the past nine months been going to the ground in the state seats of Nangka, Bawang Asan and Pelawan. So, our candidate is sufficiently well known.

"For DAP, this (by-election) is also to gauge the people's support for us in the next state election.

"It should be a one-on-one fight. But we are going against the all-powerful machinery, money and media of the BN," he was quoted by Bernama as saying today.

PKR to abide by Pakatan decision

Meanwhile, Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Sibu branch chairperson Wong Soon Koh said a name had been submitted to the party headquarters and state BN for consideration.

He declined to discloseby the name, saying that Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is the state BN chairman, would make the announcement in due time.  

Earlier today, Wan Azizah was reported by Bernama as have said PKR was interested in contesting the Sibu parliamentary seat, but would abide by any decision on the matter taken by Sarawak PKR leaders.

NONE Wan Azizah said the party would discuss the matter with state DAP leaders.

Sibu parliamentary seat was vacated following the deat of its representative Robert Lau Hoi Chew ( left ), 68, who was from Sarawak United People's Party. He was also deputy transport minister.

"If the decision is for DAP to contest (the seat), then PKR would give its support and cooperation in the real spirit of Pakatan," Wan Azizah told reporters after meeting with PKR members and supporters in Sibu today.

On claims by former PKR leader Gabriel Adit Demong that the party was not really interested or serious in spreading its wings to the state, Wan Azizah said Demong was free to express his opinions.

Adit, who is now chairperson of Sarawak Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) also said that Anwar had failed to provide for financial assistance for the establishment of more party divisions and to meet with the grassroots in Sarawak.

'PKR still growing'

"The truth is, PKR is still growing, and many want to be members of the party. We have many members of parliament and state assembly m embers all over the country," said Wan Azizah.

She declined to confirm whether PKR would contest the 40-plus state seats in the impending Sarawak elections.

"That is a party secret. We will disclose the numbers when the time comes," she said.

Lanang PKR member George Chen said Wan Azizah's visit is to prepare the party machinery for the state elections.