DAP Sarawak will cooperate with Keadilan in the coming polls only if the latter withdraws from Barisan Alternatif and publicly disassociates itself from PAS, which aims to form an Islamic state.

"We are not willing to compromise on principles," DAP Sarawak secretary Chong Chieng Jen told malaysiakini today.

Chong is expected to be the party's candidate for the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat. It was previously held by Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) leader and former state speaker Song Swee Guan, who resigned because of financial woes.

He was commenting on the recent call by Keadilan Sarawak leader Dominique Ng - who is also expected to contest the seat - urging DAP to give way this time around.

Chong stressed that Keadilan's stand on its ally's Islamic state blueprint was ambiguous. He added that if the party wanted to work with DAP, it must state its objection clearly.

"Our differences are on ideology. By being associated with PAS, Keadilan is supporting it (the Islamic state) and on this we cannot compromise," he added.

The DAP leader said Keadilan would only spoil his party's chances if it contested in the same seats.

'Pay back' time

However, Ng claimed that it was time for DAP to 'pay back' Keadilan for giving way to the former in the last state elections.

"Considering our sacrifice, naturally, I feel that, this time around DAP should allow us to contest the seat without any interference," he said.

In the 1999 polls, Ng stood on an independent ticket and garnered 9,850 votes while Chong managed to secure 5,913 votes. Song won the seat with 18,239 votes.

"The (elections) result tells it all DAP is not as popular in the seat. Hence, it should reconsider its plan to contest in the seat.

"This will not only prevent an unnecessary clash between two opposition candidates but also enable opposition candidate to give a good fight and hopefully, this time around, wrestle the seat from Barisan Nasional," he added.

Ruling out any possibility of reaching an understanding was DAP Sarawak chief Richard Wong. He stressed that his party will carry on with its plan to contest the Bandar Kuching seat.

The Chinese-majority constituency is one of seven seats that DAP has been traditionally contesting. The seat was once held by the party via its candidate Sim Kwang Yang.

The other seats are Stampin, Lanang, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Sarikei.

Wong stressed that DAP would not change its decision to contest in all seven seats as this was recently decided at the state committee meeting.