PAS will make way for Keadilan in the anticipated by-election in Indera Kayangan in Perlis, refuting reports that the two parties were clashing over the seat.

Party president Fadzil Noor reiterated his stand that Keadilan would be contesting for the seat as it had made inroads there during the last general elections.

"I have already said earlier, Keadilan will contest in Indera Kayangan," Fadzil told malaysiakini when asked to comment on the possibility of PAS contesting there.

However, local PAS leaders have expressed interest in contesting in the northern state since rumours of the by-election hit the streets with the worsening condition of its terminally-ill state assembly representative, MCA's Khor Liang Tee.

Recently, Perlis PAS commissioner Hashim Jassin was quoted by The Star as saying that the party was ready to contest in the state seat should there be a by-election, adding that PAS and Keadilan should discuss the issue.

However, PAS information chief Azizan Abdul Razak told the daily that it is the party leadership who would have the final say on whether to contest the seat.

Conventionally, Barisan Alternatif - the PAS, Keadilan and PRM coalition - would meet to discuss pre-election issues such as the candidacy and campaign strategy before the announcement by the BA chairperson on the fielded candidate.

When met at his office in Parliament yesterday, Fadzil said neither the party nor the BA had met to discuss the Indera Kayangan matter.

"Let them announce the by-election first, then we'll talk about it," he told malaysiakini .

Mixed electorate

Keadilan had however publicly expressed its interest to contest there contrary to the spirit of the coalition party.

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the party was making preparations. The party's supreme council which met last week announced vice-chairperson and state executive councillor Azmin Ali as the election director for Indera Kayangan.

According to reports, Keadilan is planning to field a Malay should there be a by-election. This may not be a wise decision, observers say, as Indera Kayangan is a mixed constituency with about 50 percent Chinese voters in the electorate.

The Islamic state controversy, with which PAS is mired, is seen as a problem for BA to lure voters away from the Barisan Nasional.

BN has made a circuitous announcement that Malaysia "is already an Islamic state", albeit a moderate one.

Election imminent

In response to Keadilan's choice of candidate, Perlis Mentri Besar Shahidan Kassim said Keadilan's move to place a Malay candidate would not work as the non-Malays are solidly behind BN.

He added that the party was confident of an increased victory margin this time.

In the 1999 elections, MCA's Khor won the seat after polling 3,825 votes against Keadilan's Ko Choo Liang who polled 1,851.

The Indera Kayangan state seat is made up of 47.9 percent of Chinese voters, 46.4 percent Malays and 5.3 percent Indians.

Khor who is Perlis MCA chairperson and a state executive councillor, is in critical condition after fighting colon cancer for two years.

The Election Commission is expected to announce a by-election soon due to Khor's worsening condition. The election would have to take place within 60 days after the announcement, with an allotment of seven to 10 days for the campaign period.