Tensions between two former opposition partners escalated today following Party Keadilan Rakyat's (Keadilan) unilateral move to name its candidates for two seats previously contested by DAP in the last general elections.

Leaders from both parties traded barbs and seemed to move further away from their stated intention of having straight-fights with the ruling Barisan Nasional.

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua reminded DAP that if it remained adamant of contesting in Chinese-majority seats, it would only confirm the claim that its former coalition partner practised 'racial politics'.

"Keadilan is a multi-racial party, surely the party will appoint Chinese candidates in certain Chinese-majority seats.

However, Tian Chua said that unlike Keadilan, DAP was not interested in fighting any Malay-majority seats.

"DAP has labeled themselves as a multi-racial based party (also) but this was not reflected in the seat negotiation process," he said when contacted.

Rebut charge

Tian Chua also urged DAP to respond to the his party's charge that it was practising 'racial politics' instead of seeking to divert attention from the issue.

He was referring to Chinese-based party's decision to suspend negotiations with its opposition compatriot after the latter revealed details about the talks to the press.

His comments come in the wake of report in Sin Chew Daily , which quoted Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali as saying that Tian Chua and supreme council member Dr Lee Boon Chye will contest in Petaling Utara and Ipoh Timur parliamentary seats respectively.

This irked DAP leaders Ronnie Liu and Ngeh Koo Ham, who are eyeing the two seats which they had contested, and lost, in the last general elections.

The duo expressed "great disappointment and regret" over the announcement and claimed that they had better prospects in the two seats as the majority of voters were Chinese.

'Not proper

'

Contacted later, Liu said it was not proper for Azmin to announce the candidate before Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has made a decision on whether or not to resume talks with DAP.

Following the suspension, DAP sent a letter to Wan Azizah on the matter and has yet to receive a reply.

"It is bad if the announcement is true. Keadilan hasn't responded to the letter. What is suspend? Suspend means only temporary terminating the talks, not forever," he said.

Liu, who is DAP national publicity chief and newly-minted as DAP Selangor chief, also urged leaders from both parties to remain calm and keep their cool.

In the 1999 general election, he contested in Petaling Utara but was defeated by an MCA candidate.

"It will be hard for Keadilan to win the people's support in Petaling Utara because I can confirm that they have never done anything there," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Ngeh who was also defeated by an MCA candidate in Ipoh Timur in the last polls said despite this, he has continued serving the constituency.

"I deeply regret the attitude of Keadilan fielding a candidate in Ipoh Timur because this is not the way for the opposition to cooperate," said the Perak DAP chief when contacted.

"Although the 1999 elections showed that DAP had obtained 35 percent Malay support, we never became greedy and encroached into Keadilan seats," he added.

'Don't disturb'

Ngeh also claimed that the "Malay-based Keadilan" will find it hard to convince the Chinese voters in Ipoh Timur as it does not have a clear stand on two issues - the Islamic state espoused by its ally PAS and Malays special rights.

"Personally, I will not relent in contesting for Ipoh Timur... please don't erode and disturb DAP's places," he stressed.

On the other hand, Keadilan's Lee said he would abide by the party's decision and urged DAP to adhere to the original agreement of having straight-fights with the BN.

He also said the party will name more candidates as part of its preparation for the elections, expected to be held early next year.

In a related development, the Keadilan president said the party's political bureau will decide on DAP's letter tomorrow.

"The negotiation was initiated by them and they are also the one who wanted to suspend the talks, we are really shocked by the announcement. Both parties have made media statements," Wan Azizah said when contacted.

Asked on the 'racial politics' allegation, she said DAP did not explain or clarify the accusations in the letter but only expressed their unhappiness over the news reports quoting Keadilan leaders.