While opposition leaders in Sarawak are squabbling over seats, DAP and Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan) in neighbouring Sabah have reached an electoral understanding for the upcoming general election.

"This is to ensure that at least the opposition vote is not split and to give opposition candidates a better chance of winning," DAP Kota Kinabalu branch chairperson Dr Hiew King Chiew said today.

He said the electoral understanding was reached 'sometime back' based on the apparent desire of voters following last year's Gaya parliamentary by-election for opposition parties to stand united.

Hiew added that DAP will contest in at least two parliamentary seats - in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan - as well as in "four to five state seats" in urban areas.

Both the parliamentary and state elections are expected to be held concurrently this time around. Pundits are speculating that the polls could be called as early as next month.

Meanwhile, the DAP leader rated the party's chances as 'rather good' this time, saying that the Sabah people now feel that there is a need for an opposition voice in both the state assembly and Parliament.

On the other hand, Keadilan is expected to field candidates in several state and parliamentary constituencies.

"We've not finalised the list as the date of the election is yet to be announced," said a local leader who declined to be identified.

Seats increased

Under a review of the electoral boundaries, the number of state seats have been increased from 48 to 60 and parliamentary seats from 20 to 25. There are several new constituencies for both state and parliament.

Presently, Sabah Barisan Nasional controls all 48 and 20 parliamentary seats, after Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by former chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan ( photo ) re-joined the ruling front. PBS holds13 state seats (excluding the seat held by Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Bingkor) and three parliamentary seats.

Umno, which controls the most seats, is expected to gain a lion's share of the additional constituencies, while other parties, including PBS, the Liberal Democratic Party of former chief minister Chong Kah Kiat and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) of another ex-chief minister Yong Teck Lee are bidding for additional allocations as well.

Two other Kadazandusun-based parties - Upko led by former chief minister Bernard Dompok, who is a federal minister, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) led by state minister Joseph Kurup (whose party failed to secure any seats in the last election) are expected to be allocated a small number of seats respectively

A Sabah-based veteran journalist told malaysiakini that the state BN's chances of retaining most if not all the 60 state seats appeared to be good in the absence of any formidable opposition.

However, he added that the opposition might be able to pull through in one or two Chinese-majority parliamentary seats.

"PBS can be expected to remain the bulwark in predominantly Kadazandusun areas with their strong grassroots support from the community," he said, noting that PBS leaders, especially Pairin, enjoy a close working relationship with Sabah Umno leader and Chief Minister Musa Aman ( left ).

"The same, however, cannot be said about the relationship between leaders of the two Chinese-based parties SAPP and LDP," he said, adding that the opposition might be able to exploit this in one or two areas.