Despite DAP's decision to suspend talks on seats distribution, Keadilan is still hoping that negotiations would continue as normal.

Keadilan's chief negotiator Dr Xavier Jayakumar said as far as the party was concerned, the talks had been going on amicably over the past few months.

"Both sides understand the difficulties in negotiation talks," he told malaysiakini today.

Keadilan leadership has not decided on its next course of action but will be meeting over the weekend to dicuss the matter.

Xavier was commenting on DAP's decision to suspend seat negotiations with Keadilan following press reports by Keadilan leaders which allegedly put DAP in a bad light.

Asked to comment on DAP's outburst that Keadilan had violated an agreement not to reveal details of the talks, Xavier replied, "Whatever transpired during negotiations is kept within the six-member team".

Series of reactions

"As far as we are concerned, our Penang leaders were merely expressing their personal opinions and that does not reflect the views of our negotiating team," he added.

DAP abruptly suspended discussions when Keadilan Penang leaders were quoted in Chinese daily Kwong Wah Yit Poh and malaysiakini as saying that DAP refused to give up Chinese-majority seats in Penang, leaving Keadilan with Malay-majority and mixed-race seats.

The suspension surprised Keadilan leaders and started a series of reactions from both sides, with DAP firing the first salvo, charging that Keadilan had leaked information about the closed-door discussions.

Since negotiation talks between the two parties began in March, the two sides had not managed to reach any solution and the outcome has been described as "unsatisfactory." So far, five meetings were held.

Xavier said Keadilan would like to continue meeting with DAP "to find the best possible formula to reach a common understanding".

No apology

"In the final analysis, the person who wins is the man on the street who finally has the option to decide who to choose - Barisan Nasional or another opposition party," he said.

When met in Penang, state Keadilan chief Dr Mansor Othman echoed Xavier's comment and urged DAP to return to the negotiating table.

He, however, said he would not apologise for the comments he made over the outcome of the recent talks between the two parties on Penang seats.

"There is nothing to apologise for," Mansor said adding that continued squabbling among the two parties would only benefit the BN.