Sarawak opposition parties have agreed to form a pact to take on the Barisan Nasional - led by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud in the state elections due next year.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak liaison chief Wan Zainal Abidin Wan Senusi said discussion has reached an "advance stage" to allow for one-on-one contests against the ruling coalition.

If things proceeds according to plan, he said the pact would include PKR, PAS, DAP, Sarawak National Party (Snap), Sarawak Reform Party (Star) and the newly formed Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) - which is in the process of registration.

MDC comprises leaders from the now defunct Parti Bersatu Dayak Sarawak or PBDS.

"We have even agreed on the division of seats to be contested in the elections. Our main aim is to deny BN as many seats as possible," said Wan Zainal when met at the sidelines of the PKR congress in Kuala Lumpur today.

Only DAP managed to win a seat in the last state elections in 2001. There are 71 seats up for grabs.

"The division of seats depends on many factors. The party that has the best chance to win at the constituency will contest there. Other factors would be racial composition of the constituency and the credibility of candidates," explained the PKR leader.

Asked what would happen to MDC leaders should the party's registration be denied, he said arrangements have been made to ensure that they take part in the next elections.

However, he declined to elaborate on this.

He is also optimistic about the pact's chances. "There are rising grouses regarding misappropriation of public fund and abuse of land by the state government. I think there is a good chance for us to win more seats."

Cronyism charge

At a press conference earlier, Wan Zainal accused the chief minister of practising cronyism in relation to the contract for the construction of the state assembly building.

He claimed that the project worth RM296.5 million was awarded to PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd known for their close links with Taib Mahmud.

"It is a well known fact that the project was sub-contracted to Bina Puri Holdings for RM228.9 million which means that the two earlier companies made an easy RM67.6 million profit without doing anything," he said.

According to him, this was only one of many corrupt practices in Sarawak under the leadership of Taib Mahmud.

Wan Zainal said he has filed a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) on the matter and was assured that the matter would be investigated.

"This case is also a test to the leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his quest to fight corruption," he added.