Keadilan's Dr Lee Boon Chye today withdrew from contesting Ipoh Timor, leaving DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to slug it out with BN's MCA incumbent Thong Fah Chong (right).

Lee, the party's state chief, said that he will now be contesting in Perak's Gopeng.

"The decision was made late last night. This was done in the interest of opposition unity," he told malaysiakini .

Lee said that a last ditch effort was made by senior leaders of the two opposition parties, who decided to pull him out of the Ipoh Timor contest.

"I'll abide by the decision. This will consolidate the strength of the opposition," he said.DAP seeks to retake Ipoh.

Lee: 'Give and take'

Lee, who is cardiologist, added that Keadilan will also be giving way to DAP for a one-to-one fight against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in two Perak state seats - Menglembu and Tebing Tinggi.

He called on DAP to reciprocate by pulling out from a number of other state seats sought by Keadilan -Bercham, Jelapang, Simpang Pulai - to avoid three-cornered contests, which was rejected by DAP today.

Thong, when asked if he was surprised by the retreat of Lee, replied that he had actually predicted that there would be no three-cornered contest.

The BN incumbent added that he was confident that the citizens will not be voting the opposition for a parliamentary seat, and that it would be easier for the opposition to win at the state assembly level.

Ipoh Timor: All straight fights

Keadilan's decision essentially paved the way for a straight-fight between DAP and BN in all Ipoh Timor seats.

In Canning, Teh Hock Ke (DAP) will contest against Vincent Hooi Wy-Hon (BN). Both are newcomers.

Tebing Tinggi saw Raymond Chong Yoh Chyi (DAP) fielded against incumbent Chew Wai Khoon (BN). Over at Pasir Pinji, incumbent Chan Kam (BN) will run against Su Keong Siong (DAP).

DAP leader Lim's future will very much depend on the outcome of the Ipoh Timor contest - theparty is under serious pressure to regain its foothold in opposition politics since failing to capture a number of Perak seats in 1999.

In 1999, Thong took the predominantly middle-class Chinese seat of Ipoh Timor by a rather slim 2,127-majority.

At the Ipoh Timor nomination centre this morning, about BN candidates were flanked by about 500 supporters, while DAP's were surrounded by about 100, with each waving their party flags and yelling out party slogans.

Lim's son, former Bandar Melaka MP Lim Guan Eng was also present to support the DAP supremo.

DAP: No more negotiations

By the end of today's nomination period, three-cornered fights remained for the state seats of Jelapang and Bercham - these fall within the parliamentary constituencies of Ipoh Barat and Batu Gajah respectively.

When contacted this afternoon, DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham said the party does not intend to entertain anymore last minute seat settlements with Keadilan.

"It is too late now. The battle must be focused on BN. All this must be put behind us. The time now is for us to move forward with our election campaign," said Ngeh.

Under the present electoral law, candidates are allowed, up to three days after nomination, to pull out of the electoral contest without forfeiting their deposit.

Candidates for the new state constituency of Jelapang are: Hee Yip Foong (DAP), former Batu Gajah MP Foo Piew Kok (Keadilan), and Dr Mah Hang Soon (BN).

Contesting in Bercham are: Sum Cheok Leng (DAP), Tan Seng Toh (Keadilan), and ex-city councilor Gooi Seng Teik (BN).

The candidates

In total, 10 out of 12 parliamentary and state seats in the Kinta Valley will all see straight fights between BN and DAP.

Candidates for Ipoh Barat are seat incumbent Ho Cheong Sing (BN) and M Kulasegaran (DAP). Following a shuffle, Chong Tat Cheong (DAP) will meet Bercham's incumbent Tan Chong Meng (BN) in Kepayang. Buntong incumbent Yik Phooi Hong (BN) will be challenged by Siva Subramaniam (DAP).

In Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan (DAP) will see challenge from Ong Ka Chuan (BN). Lim Pik Har (DAP) will attempt to wrest Tronoh (formerly Lahat) from incumbent Lee Kon Yin (BN). Over at Menglembu, Keong Ming Sing (DAP) will face off against Lee Koi Pin (BN).