Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan) candidate for the Menglembu state seat in Perak Hew Yoon Tat today offered to withdraw to allow a straight fight between DAP and Barisan Nasional (BN).

However, Hew said the final decision would depend on the outcome of a meeting with the party's state leaders tonight.

"I am willing to withdraw so that DAP can fight it out with the BN candidate," he said when met.

He also expressed hope that Keadilan leaders will agree to his offer in order to ensure an opposition victory.

"It will be better if it was a one-to-one battle with the BN. By having a three-cornered fight, we will only divide our strength," he said.

The DAP candidate for the seat is Keong Meng Seng while BN will be fielding MCA candidate Loh Koi Pin.

In the 1999 general election, MCA's Lee Kon Yin had defeated Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Yang Ker Ming by a majority of 1,997 votes to capture the seat, which was then called Lahat.

Failed talks

Keadilan and DAP are expected to lock horns in many seats nationwide come polling day on March 21 after their seat discussions had failed.

Met later, Keadilan Perak chief Dr Lee Boon Chye said he would have to discuss the matter with Hew before making any comments.

He also confirmed that the issue will be raised at a meeting tonight.

Lee himself will be embroiled in a three-cornered fight with none other than DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang for the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat against BN's MCA incumbent Thong Fah Chong.