Keadilan leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail may seek to bring the two feuding factions which are hotly competing for posts in the party's first election to negotiate a compromise.

According to a high-ranking party source, key leaders have advised Wan Azizah, who is party president, to initiate a meeting between the two factions in a bid to get everyone to close ranks, instead of embarking on a bruising party contest.

"She seems interested. However, it also depends on whether both parties are willing to accept a deal," said the source.

The upcoming election to be held during the Keadilan annual general meeting next weekend is likely to see a straight fight between those who are linked to the Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and non-Abim factions in all the party posts.

The non-Abim factions comprised a loose group of former Umno members and those linked to Muslim group Jamaah Islah Malaysia and other NGOs.

With the closing of the party's nomination, candidates from the rival camps are racing neck-to-neck in the battle for key posts.

The source stressed that the compromise will largely depend on the conditions offered by the two feuding factions.

"She will only proceed if she is confident that there will be a resolution," said the party source.

However, Wan Azizah could not be contacted for comment.

Keadilan is having its supreme council meeting tomorrow afternoon after which Wan Azizah is expected to make a press statement.

Highest nominations

Meanwhile, Keadilan youth deputy secretary-general Diong Chi Tzuoh said that about half of the 13 Chinese candidates nominated in the powerful 20-member supreme council will pull out from the contest because of their low chances of victory.

"Chinese candidates are expected to win about three to four seats, while Indian candidates may win about one or two in the MPT," said Diong.

Diong said that some of the Chinese candidates have met to reach an understanding in their bid to maximise their chances of victory.

"We hope to limit the number of the candidates to avoid dividing the votes," said Diong.

Party vice-president Tian Chua and youth vice-president Low Chee Chong garnered the highest nominations in their respective posts - both obtaining 62 nominations - despite the fact that Keadilan is a Malay-dominated party.

The non-Abim faction has proposed four Chinese candidates for the supreme council - they are Penang deputy chief Cheah Kah Peng, Perak assistant-secretary Dr Lee Boon Chye, supreme council member Ng Lum Yong and Low.

Apart from them, the rest of the Chinese candidates are former treasurer Goh Keat Peng, Yap Ah Peng, Lee Kim Seng, Cheng Hui Hong, Foo Piew Kok, Tai Sing Ng, Teoh Teik Huat, Christina Liew and Rob Lee.

However, Diong stressed that the party nominations acquired by the candidates may not necessarily reflect their real strength.

"The choice of the delegates in the 20 supreme council seats will reflect the strengths of the various factions, states and ethnic groups within the party," said Diong.