PAS and PKR are said to be in a tussle over the Labuan seat, with PAS announcing its candidate a day after PKR claimed that it will contest the seat.

In a press conference yesterday, Federal Territories PAS announced that it will field local boy and Labuan PAS information chief Hadnan Mohamad, 53, for the battle, despite PKR's claims.

NONE However, Federal Territories PAS commissioner Mohamad Noor Mohamad was reported by Bernama as saying he is certain that this will not give rise to a multi-corner fight against the incumbent BN.

Mohamad, nevertheless, expressed disappointment of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's ( left ) announcement that the party would contest Labuan, purportedly without consulting its Pakatan Rakyat partners.

Labuan is a federal territory located on the western tip of Sabah. The seat was won by Umno's Yusof Mahal in 2008 with a large majority of 8,457 votes.

PAS came in last in the three-corner fight, garnering 1,106 votes - or about five percent of the total votes - behind an independent candidate.

NONE Azmin, upon learning of the developments on Labuan yesterday, told reporters that he will discuss the matter with PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali ( right ) at a central leadership meeting which took place later that day.

He said that unlike DAP, PKR is expected to concede more seats to PAS in Sabah and Sarawak, as the Islamic party needs to contest seats with greater Muslim presence to expand its limited influence in the two Borneo states.

DAP mostly contests in urban seats with smaller proportions of Muslim electorates.

There are overlapping claims among Pakatan parties yet unresolved in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor. This is expected to be ironed out by this weekend, with final candidates to be ready by Monday.