Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak will not be involved in campaigning for the Ba'Kelalan state seat, said state liaison chairperson Wong Ho Leng.

He was commenting on a Sarawak National Party (Snap) statement that it may co-operate with DAP in the by-election set for Sept 18.

Snap president Edwin Dundang Bugak told reporters in Miri yesterday that he did not dismiss the possibility of joining forces with DAP in campaigning, but pointed out that this had not been finalised.

Wong said, however, that DAP is working hard to give Barisan Nasional (BN) a run for its money, as the public "have seen the inadequacies" of the ruling coalition.

"They need a different voice now to break political hegemony of BN rule," he said.

DAP Sarawak did well in the parliamentary elections in March when it managed to steal the Bandar Kuching seat from BN, taking advantage of the internal rift within arch-rival Sarawak United People's Party.

Chong Chieng Jen's victory over former senator Wee Kok Tiong was dubbed by many as the middle-class person's triumph over the towkay, signalling that people's had rejected 'elitist' politics.

Contest likely

Meanwhile, state election officer Noordin Che Ngah said it is likely that there will be a contest for the state seat which fell vacant when incumbent Dr Judson Tagal was killed in a helicopter crash on July 12.

The BN has nominated Nelson Balang, to the dissatisfaction of some in its component party, Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

Noordin said 150 workers would be involved on polling day, while three helicopters would be used.

"The electoral roll, ballot boxes, forms, posters and election materials have been sent to the returning officer in Lawas," he said.

The Ba'Kelalan constituency has a total of 7,696 registered voters including two postal voters. The majority are from the Lun Bawang community, followed by Kelabit, Iban, Tagal and Chinese.

JIMMY TEOH is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.