The stalemate in negotiations between Keadilan and DAP over seat allocations for the next general election is being stretched out over a technicality.

On June 9, malaysiakini reported that Keadilan insisted that discussions over seats should begin at state level. DAP preferred that the matter be handled by national-level mechanisms.

There appears to have been no progress in settling the dispute. While Keadilan says it has already made its stand clear, DAP is adamant that this should be put in writing.

The two parties have met twice to date, with the first meeting having taken place on March 21. The second was held on May 5.

Keadilan has told its state leaders to meet their DAP counterparts by July 30 to settle their differences, following which the national leadership will step into any remaining problematic cases.

DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu ( left ) said the least Keadilan could do was "communicate" with him because the negotiations should be done in a "professional manner".

"Talk to me at least ... any problems that cannot be resolved in a certain state can be resolved in another state. The national committee is in a better position to see the big picture," he said.

Liu is representing DAP in the negotiations along with central executive committee member and Parliament representative for Seputeh Teresa Kok and Youth wing secretary Loke Siew Fook.

While Liu said DAP was willing to wait for Keadilan to respond to its request for an official letter, he warned that the party had no intention of allowing the matter to be prolonged.

"If there is a one-to-one fight, we (DAP) still stand a better chance (of winning). That is why we are willing to wait for Keadilan but we cannot wait too long," he said.

"There are no two ways about it. If they want to negotiate at state level, then inform us about it in a letter."

'No' to letter

Keadilan vice-president Dr A Xavier Jayakumar ( left ) is leading the party's team comprising supreme council member Khalid Jaafar and deputy Youth chief Low Chee Cheong.

When contacted, Xavier maintained that Keadilan would not be writing officially to DAP as Liu requested because the party had made a verbal request at the last meeting.

Xavier asked why DAP leaders were making "a big fuss" over the issue, saying that even Barisan Nasional holds discussions at state level before submitting recommendations on seat allocation to the national committee.

"This is the most democratic way to go forward. We do not want an authoritarian leader but a progressive one....but could it be that DAP leaders have no confidence in their state leaders?" he asked.

As a comparison, Xavier said Keadilan and PAS have held two "smooth" meetings regarding seats in Selangor and Kedah, and that PAS leaders have full confidence in their state leaders' ability to handle such discussions.