With the Machap by-election in Malacca less than a week away, DAP is looking forward in formulating strategies to win votes in full cooperation with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said one of the strategies employed by the party is to reach out to the grassroots.

"We will be doing some grassroots work. Like those whom we've helped before, we hope they'll get their relatives to vote for us," he said when contacted today.

Asked whether there will be programmess and talks with the locals, Lim replied: "Yes there will be and it will be in cooperation with PKR."

He said the party will be working with PKR to target voters of all races.

"It's not a case of DAP trying to woo Chinese votes or PKR Malays votes. We are going to work hard to get everybody to vote for us," he explained.

Help in any way

Meanwhile, PKR information chief Tian Chua said his party will help DAP in any way possible.

"DAP is leading the way. This is very much a DAP battle but we will assist in anyway we can," he added when contacted.

However, Chua was unable to disclose the election strategies as they have yet to discuss the matter with DAP.

He said the delay was related to the time needed by DAP to decide on their candidate.

"We will cooperate if DAP calls for a meeting. They haven't called for a meeting yet because they have yet to settle on their candidate," he added.

DAP is expected to reveal their candidate on Friday night. Possible candidates include Lim's special assistant Tey Kok Kiew and DAP Youth committee member Liou Chen Kuang.

Their rival MCA has also thrown a few names around including party vice-president Dr Fong Chan Onn's special assistant Ngow Dow Soon, his political secretary Lai Meng Chong and his private secretary Chew Chong Lin.

The candidate will be decided by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Barisan Nasional chairperson, when he returns from Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

The Machap state seat - a traditional stronghold of the ruling MCA - fell vacant following the death of incumbent Poh Ah Tiam, 55, on March 15.