Fresh from inking a seat arrangement deal in Penang two weeks ago, opposition parties DAP and PKR today announced that they have reached a similar pact in Negri Sembilan.

Negri Sembilan is not widely considered as a difficult state for either party to arrive at consensus, as it has few seats eyed by both parties.

The only significant outcome of today’s announcement is their agreement to swap two seats.

“DAP and PKR have agreed to swap the Senawang and Port Dickson state seats - DAP will contest in Senawang while PKR will contest in Port Dickson.” said a joint press statement issued by DAP state chief Loke Siew Fook ( photo ) and PKR state chief Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

The two have vowed to work together to ensure victory for all their candidates.

However, there was no mention about the four parliamentary seat - two of which were fought by DAP in 2004 while the other two by PKR.

Nevertheless, with another general election to be called soon, straight fights between the opposition and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition are likely in all seats in Negri Sembilan.

This is similar to the 2004 general election, when there were no three-corner fights for the four parliamentary and 22 state seats.

BN won all the parliamentary seats and 20 state seats, with DAP triumphant in two - Loke in Lobak and Lim Fui Ming in Bahau. However, Lim defected to MCA last year after an internal squabble in DAP.

Hard-nosed negotiations

The two parties are expected to be able to reach agreement to ensure one-on-one fights in all states with the possible exception of Perak and Sarawak.

Hard-nosed negotiations are still underway in those states, made complicated by their sizable number of non-Malay voters who are being wooed by both parties.

The deal in Penang on Jan 9 was a breakthrough as the two parties had fought it out in four seats - one parliament and three state seats - in the last general election. The resulting three-cornered contests were all won by BN.

Under the pact, DAP - which for long has aspired to rule Penang - will contest seven of the 13 parliamentary seats and 19 of the 40 state seats.

PKR and the other opposition party PAS will negotiate for the remaining seats.