The same problem among the opposition ranks over seats in Kuching crops up whenever an election nears and it is happening again in recent days.

In the 1999 parliamentary and 2001 state elections, opposition parties in Sarawak, notably DAP and Keadilan refused to give way and fought each other in urban seats. They ended up empty handed.

As the next general election nears again, DAP and Keadilan have resumed their quarrel over Bandar Kuching.

DAP turncoat Dominique Ng who is now with Keadilan and Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chien Jen, both eyeing Bandar Kuching, are telling each other the same thing, "Let me contest. Please stay out".

Ng said that the opposition will have a better chance to take on the Barisan Nasional in Bandar Kuching if it is a one-to-one contest.

If the DAP and Keadian are able to compromise on the seat and allow the latter to take on the BN, it will offer the opposition in Sarawak a good chance of winning the predominantly Chinese seat, he added.

Ng polled nearly 10,000 votes in the last parliamentary elections on an independent ticket and the DAP managed only about 6000. The seat was won BN's Song Swee Guan from the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) who garnered 18,239 votes.

Ng was however, not optimistic that the DAP would agree to a compromise.

Ng has declined all posts in Keadilan in Sarawak which is led by Hafsah Harun, a former state minister, but remains an active member of the party.

He explained that he wanted to concentrate on his legal practice. He is also an active social worker.

DAP list finalised

When contacted, Chong who is likely to be the party's candidate for Bandar Kuching has asked Keadilan and Ng to stay away from Bandar Kuching during the coming elections.

He added that the party had already finalised its list of candidates, including Bandar Kuching.

According to political observers, Keadilan has not been seen as an active political party in Sarawak since the last elections. And malaysiakini calls to its Sarawak liaison head Hafsah Harun went unanswered.

It is expected to focus on predominantly-Malay and a few Chinese-majority seats in the forthcoming elections.

The party has yet to make its mark in Sarawak since it spread its wings to the state in 1999.