The opposition's chances of wresting control of Kuching's premier Chinese seat of Padungan in the heart of Sarawak's capital city are seen to have improved significantly with Keadilan's decision to make way for DAP to face Barisan Nasional in a straight fight.

The decision was made after what the party's Stampin branch secretary and legal adviser Dominique Ng Kim Ho described to malaysiakini as "a lengthy meeting and long debate" among local party leaders last night.

He said it represented "a big sacrifice" on the part of Keadilan.

DAP had earlier made what Ng described as a unilateral announcement that it would be fielding Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, a lawyer and son of senior DAP Sarawak leader Chong Siew Chiang, in Padungan.

Keadilan Sarawak's top party leaders, including their chief Hafsah Harun, made a final offer to DAP at a press conference in Kuching this morning. Also present was Keadilan assembly representative for Ulu Klang Azmin Ali, who is also the party's director of elections in Sarawak.

Ng, originally slated to fight in Padungan, will now move to Pending, another Chinese-predominant seat in Kuching which has been represented by BN's Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) secretary-general Sim Kheng Hui.

Ng described Sim, who is also an assistant minister, as "the most formidable candidate" as he has successively won in that constituency without much difficulty in the last two terms.

DAP has earlier announced that the party is fielding lawyer Voon Lee Shan in Pending.

Compromise ruled out

When announcing the party's decision this morning, Keadilan leaders hoped that DAP would reciprocate their gesture by not contesting in Pending.

But any chances of that happening have been ruled out by DAP Sarawak leader Richard Wong Ho Leng who confirmed that the party would go ahead with fielding Voon.

Keadilan Sarawak deputy liaison chief Cheng Hui Hong , a lawyer, will contest in another Chinese-majority seat, Batu Lintang, against SUPP incumbent Chan Seng Khai, who is also mayor of Kuching City South.

Ng told malaysiakini that his party had decided this time round to give up Padungan, in spite of his better performance than DAP's against SUPP's Song Swee Guan in the 1996 state elections, in the interest of ensuring opposition victory.

Meanwhile, Keadilan Sarawak chief Hafsah Harun told malaysiakini the party is all prepared for the state election and will be putting forward 28 names as the party's candidates on nomination day tomorrow.

She expressed confidence that the combined opposition would be able to deny the BN a two-thirds majority.