As the clock ticks away for tomorrow's Gaya parliamentary by-election, DAP candidate Hiew King Cheu ( photo ) appears to be increasingly confident about his chances.

Should the 50-year-old opposition candidate win the three-cornered bout, he would not be the first DAP politician to do so.

In 1986, the party's Gerald Math won the same seat and held it for one term.

When met during a walkabout session at an area known as the Philippine Market (set up 20 years ago under the United Nations to assist Filipino refugees), Hiew said: "Areas (in Gaya) once considered impossible are now possible."

He cited Likas as an example. According to him, the mood in the Barisan Nasional stronghold appears to have discernibly changed in favour of the opposition, especially DAP.

Hiew added that the same can be said about Inamam an area represented by Parti Bersatu Sabah, led by former chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also the Hougan Siou or paramount chief of the Kadazandusun community.

Since the campaign period kicked off two weeks ago, the DAP candidate has managed to convey his party's message to the people on the need for an opposition voice from Sabah in Parliament.

"Whoever is elected will be a short-term MP," he said, adding that the parliamentary elections are expected the latest by the end of next year.

People's grouses

According to Hiew, a civil engineer, the Gaya constituents have many grouses against the government.

One major issue, he said, is about parking fees which have been imposed not only in the city but also in suburban areas covering the entire territory under the jurisdiction of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.

"And related to the parking fees is the apparent vested interests of certain politicians linked to Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat's Liberal Democratic Party in the operating company that is benefitting from it," he charged.

Outsiders who do not know the actual situation may be perplexed at how parking fees could become such a big local issue.

"The charges are exorbitant, especially for late payments," explained Hiew.

He added that the hefty penalty for late payments could be higher than highway tolls in peninsular Malaysia.

Another point of contention is the lack of legal provisions in issuing strata titles for commercial properties.

"There are so many strata-titled commercial properties but not a single title has been issued. Buyers only rely on deed of assignments as proof of ownership, and when they die what will happen?" he said.

Hiew said this reflects the poor administration in getting the necessary laws amended, changed or enacted to meet changing needs.

The DAP candidate said all this couldn't have happened at a more horrible time since the state's economy is at rock bottom.

"State revenue is depending only on the five percent royalty from oil and gas, a significantly-reduced contribution from the timber sector and a little from palm oil, apart from federal grants," he said.

As a result, not only has implementation of state projects been sloppy but contractors are paid late or not paid at all for the work already done.

Bread-and-butter issues

Hiew also claimed that the BN government has failed to address the bread-and-butter issues affecting the ordinary man.

"You only need to come to KK (Kota Kinabalu) to find out about this. The locals all know too well what the situation is," he said.

Hiew said within the last two weeks, when meeting constituents in various parts of Gaya, he got the impression that a lot of people were unhappy with the government and had assured him of their support.

"Of course we will only know exactly after they have cast their votes tomorrow," he added.

Compared with the previous by-elections in the country, the contest in Gaya appears to be a subdued affair.

There are hardly any party flags, posters or banners.

Hiew said DAP has put up only 50 party flags and he counted about the same for BN.

"I think political parties realise that things like these do not count anymore. We have to reach out to them on the ground," he said.

On the local media coverage, Hiew said the coverage has been "quite fair".

Of the three English-language dailies there, Daily Express considered as a more independent newspaper appears to have given wider coverage to the opposition than New Sabah Times and the Daily Mail .

Among the Chinese dailies, the Asia Daily has given considerable coverage to opposition news.

Tomorrow Hiew will face Barisan Nasional's Liew Teck Chan and Keadilan's Christina Liew.