S'WAK POLLS DAP and PKR are digging their heels in the six seats where both parties are contesting, after PKR rebuffed an offer by DAP to stand down in Batu Kitang if PKR stops campaigning in the other five constituencies.

Visibly upset Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen told reporters in Kuching that the party is "not giving up Batu Kitang" while PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar said he no longer wished to comment on DAP's candidates.

"We are moving on," Xavier told reporters at the state PKR headquarters in Kuching today.

Xavier also read out a press statement detailing how the party has “strong reasons” to field its candidates in Ngemah, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang and Mambong, despite the clash with DAP.

The separate press conferences were held simultaneously.

At PKR's press conference, Xavier read a statement "thanking" DAP for willing to give up Batu Kitang if PKR gave up its claim to contest the rural seats.

"The one-for-five exchange proposal shows DAP is not serious in Batu Kitang."

"We appreciate DAP's willingness to withdraw from Batu Kitang; we hope our supporters can converge their votes for Voon (Shiak Ni) who has a higher chance of winning," he said.

Xavier said the party would not budge from those seats despite the offer.

"We have cultivated these leaders for the past 15 years and more. These are not just some people who were picked up and placed there," he said.

Asked whether PKR may still be in the negotiation process, Xavier said: "This is an election. When you say negotiate five seats, I don't understand. How do we negotiate?"

"Our candidates have fielded their papers, whether you like it or not. I think we'll carry on now. I think it's time for us to make sure BN loses to those places we are contesting. We will move on. We have bigger fish to fry," he said.

As part of an agreement with PKR's national leadership, DAP was to give up contesting the urban-based Batu Kitang to ensure a clash-free election.

On nomination day, PKR fielded candidates in five rural Dayak-majority seats – Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong – which DAP was also contesting.

DAP retaliated by submitting its original candidate, Abdul Aziz Isa, for Batu Kitang, which is a constituency made up of areas in DAP-controlled Batu Kawah and Kota Sentosa.

Chong today insisted that the clash would not disrupt the party's campaigning, saying, "I can assure you that BN would not have a free ride in Batu Kitang."

"All of (the constituents) I approached have said they would vote for Aziz. We received a very good response. Based on the feedback I have, we are leading a very close race to defeating BN."

Chong said the party has a better than even chance of beating BN on polling day.

"According to a survey, we had the upper hand with 55 percent against BN's 45 percent."

The Kota Sentosa incumbent believed the party's chances of victory have been eroded, but was confident the party could close the gap by May 7.

"I believe if we push until the final day, we can make it. We just have to work triply hard to go against BN."

On PKR's choice of candidate, Chong said the party would not carry out personal attacks. "Let's put PKR aside."

Both opposition parties had launched their manifestos on different days, with PKR launching its own yesterday and DAP today.

Asked by reporters on why the coalition did not have a joint manifesto, Chong declined to comment.

Xavier said both parties have similar manifestos.

"I think it's basically the same... I don't think there's much of a difference," he said.

He added that all the media attention has been on the opposition clashes, but felt BN too faced infighting of its own.

"Just because it's not played out in the press doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

"I think BN is very nervous about its situation... You should be paying attention to BN as well," he said.

Sarawak goes to the polls on May 7.

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