A question of choosing the right tactics is holding up the seat arrangement for Barisan Alternatif (BA) allies PAS and Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan).

However, leaders from both parties are confident that they will be able to iron out differences before the opposition front's presidential council meets on Thursday.

Contacted today, Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali said that, while major parts of the negotiations have been concluded, there were several seats yet to be resolved.

"The worst is over. Minus a few seats, all seats have been resolved and we have even identified the candidates that we will be fielding. The problem we are facing is very minor and I expect it to be settled tomorrow night before it is endorsed on Thursday," he said.

No overlapping

He said the situation as due to the need to find the right tactics, as the parties want to be certain that those fielded will win.

"These (unresolved) are not overlapping seats...we only need to look at it in a tactical point of view ...meaning that the we want to choose the best party that represents the respective constituency," added the Keadilan leader, who expects Parliament to be dissolved this week.

On the seat pact in Kedah, he said Keadilan has agreed to accept the decisions made at the state level, but with minor changes.

"The disputed seat is over the state seat of Guar Chempedak. After discussing with PAS, we conceded the seat to PAS as agreed by the state leaders. And PAS has agreed to give us an extra seat, the Kuah state seat," he explained.

Azmin had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the seat pact alleging that the party had been given a raw deal as most of the seats were "unwinnable".

Meanwhile, PAS secretary general Nasharuddin Mat Isa was also confident that the Keadilan-PAS seat arrangement will be concluded in time for the meeting.

"There are less than 10 seats to be finalised. I believe that when we meet, we will be able to conclude everything," he said when contacted.

Apart from stating that these unresolved seats are in northern and southern states, Nasharuddin refused to reveal the constituencies involved, adding that all seats in the east coast and west coast have been settled.

Common manifesto

In another development, Azmin said the BA secretariat committee meeting will also endorse the final draft of the coalition's common manifesto .

"For the past months we have had a series of meetings and discussions with the people and civil society groups to help us draw up a strong manifesto. The final draft will be presented to the committee to be endorsed," he said.

Azmin said he is confident that the manifesto - themed 'Together with a new Malaysia' - will appeal to all Malaysians. He expects the manifesto to be unveiled after the dissolution of Parliament.

BA launched its first joint manifesto ' Towards a Just Malaysia' on Oct 24, 1999. At that time the front consisted of four parties: PAS, Keadilan, DAP and PRM.

However, DAP withdrew in September 2001 after a disagreement with PAS over the latter's aim to establish an Islamic state should it come into power.

The front was reduced to two parties when Keadilan and PRM merged last August.