Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) said it would fully back top DAP leaders - Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh - in contesting for Perak's Ipoh Timor and Penang's Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seats respectively

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua announced that his party would give way to DAP national chairperson Lim and his deputy, Karpal, in the two seats where Keadilan had earlier expressed interest in fielding its own candidates.

"We hope to see the return of Lim and Karpal in Parliament. It will strengthen the opposition," said Tian Chua when contacted last night.

"As such, we have given up on our claims for the two seats...," he said, adding that Keadilan may also campaign for the two key DAP leaders, who are seeking to make a comeback after being defeated in the last general election.

Keadilan's Dr Lee Boon Chye and Gooi Hock Seng were initially expected to be fielded in Ipoh Timor - which is currently being held by ruling Barisan Nasional's component party MCA - and the new Bukit Gelugor seat respectively.

Yesterday, the DAP chairperson said he was " sadden " by Keadilan's decision to field its candidate against Karpal ( photo ) in Bukit Gelugor given that Karpal - a veteran criminal lawyer - had supported Keadilan icon and jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, "including getting arrested and charged for sedition in his defence".

Keadilan's move would have resulted in a three-cornered fight in the seat among the two opposition parties and the ruling Barisan Nasional candidate.

Lim ( photo ) was responding to Keadilan's announcement on Monday that the party had proposed to send in former DAP leader and Bukit Bendera state assemblyperson Gooi Hock Seng to contest in Bukit Gelugor.

As for Ipoh Timor, Keadilan's Lee had earlier said he was willing to give way should DAP decide to field Lim as the opposition candidate.

Candidates still unresolved

In another development, Tian Chua yesterday released a proposed list involving seats allocation between Keadilan and DAP, aimed to avoid three-cornered fights.

While the list has yet to be endorsed by its former opposition ally, the Keadilan vice-president described the list as "final".

The deadline for DAP to respond to the Keadilan's proposal had already expired three days ago.

The on-and-off seats negotiation talks between the two parties which began last year - and put on hold for about six months - involved 77 parliamentary seats and 175 state seats in Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Penang, Selangor and Federal Territory.

Under the proposal, Keadilan proposed to contest in 44 parliamentary seats and 88 state seats - which include Malay-majority seats - as opposed to 33 Chinese-majority parliamentary seats and 87 state seats for DAP.

Tian Chua said Keadilan has relented in making way in many opposition frontline seats and expressed hope that DAP would do the same in other seats to ensure a straight fight with BN.

During the last round of negotiations, it was learnt the two parties could not reach an agreement on two Penang parliamentary seats - Batu Kawan and Bukit Gelugor - and six state seats, Ayer Itam, Seri Delima, Sungai Pinang, Bukit Tengah, Bukit Tambun and Dato Keramat.

Keadilan proposed it takes Batu Kawan, Bukit Tambun and Sungai Pinang while DAP takes the remaining one parliamentary and four state seats.

The two parties are likely to go for three-cornered fights in other unresolved seats as both parties will be issuing their letter of appointment to party candidates today.

Tian Chua also advised Penang Keadilan leaders to compromise in its demands on the Chinese-majority seats for the sake of opposition unity.

He proposed for Penang Keadilan to contest in only four of the 10 Chinese-majority state seats demanded by the party state leaders.

Nurul Izzah not contesting

In another matter, Tian Chua confirmed that Anwar's eldest daughter Nurul Izzah is not contesting since she has to finish her final year studies in a local private university.

Nurul Izzah, who is popularly known as 'puteri reformasi', is scheduled to sit for her final exam one week after the election.

As the Universities and University Colleges Act strictly bars students from affiliating with any political parties, there are concerns that her university might invoke the Act to expel Nurul Izzah from campus.

Several other Keadilan leaders who have been confirmed to be contesting in the March 21 polls include secretary-general Abdul Rahman Othman for Putrajaya , vice-presidents Dr Xavier Jayakumar ( Ampang ), R Sivarasa ( Petaling Jaya Selatan ) and Sanusi Osman ( Lembah Pantai ).

Information chief Khalid Jaafar will contest in the Malacca's Bukit Katil parliamentary seat while Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh is expected to be fielded in Kuantan .