The Election Commission is expected to announce the nomination and polling dates for the Sarawak legislative assembly within the next 72 hours, a state opposition leader said today.

"We are actually surprised that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has delayed the dissolution of the state assembly for so long," added Sarawak DAP chairperson Richard Wong.

Many believe that nomination will be set for Sept 17 and polling, Sept 27.

The 62-member Sarawak assembly, the highest law-making body in the state, was dissolved earlier today in an announcement made by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, paving the way for the state's eighth elections.

Wong added that the party had been ready for the elections for nine months and would be contesting 13 out of the 62 seats in the assembly.

"We're looking forward to the elections and we're all prepared for it mentally and physically," Wong said, adding that it is unlikely that the DAP line-up of candidates will change.

He added that two candidates will contest in Malay and Iban predominant constituencies while the majority will stand in Chinese predominant areas.

'Avoid confrontation'

"The candidates are young and they represent all races ... their ages averaging 40," he added.

Wong is also hopeful that a multi-cornered fight among the state's opposition parties will not ensue.

"We have had discussions with Keadilan this month and last and we will try to avoid confronting each other," Wong said.

Sarawak DAP pulled out from the state Barisan Alternatif in March due to unresolved issues with Keadilan over the 1999 parliamentary election.

Wong said the party did not discuss with PAS, the other BA party that is hoping to make its mark in Sarawak, on the allocation of seats.

"I have heard that they are only contesting three seats among the 62, so PAS is almost a non-issue," Wong said.

About 800,000 voters will go to the polls to choose 62 representatives to one of the largest state assemblies in the country.