DAP today named its Kota Kinabalu branch chairperson Dr Hiew King Cheu as the party's candidate for the upcoming Gaya by-election in Sabah.

Announcing Hiew's candidacy in a statement, the party's International secretary Teresa Kok said the candidate has a commendable record of social and societal involvement.

"DAP believes that Hiew is a suitable and capable candidate to contest the Gaya seat," said Kok who is also the party's Gaya by-election committee chairperson.

When contacted by malaysiakini , Hiew expressed confidence that he would give the Barisan Nasional a good fight for the parliamentary seat.

"Preparations are underway. Our election operation centre has been set up. Sabah needs an opposition leader in the state to fill the void since Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has rejoined BN," he said.

Hiew added that he had served the people for many years in various capacities "but it was up to them whether to vote for him or not". He said he would focus on local issues in his campaign.

The 50-year-old father of three, who hails from Kota Kinabalu, has a doctorate in Science from the College of Business Administration, Inter-American University.

Second candidate announced

He joined the DAP in 1990 and contested the Api-Api state seat in the state election that year. However, he quit the party in 1992 and rejoined early this year.

The DAP is the second opposition party to name its candidate for Gaya. Last night, Keadilan announced that it would be fielding its Sabah's deputy head Christina Liew.

Commenting on the matter, Kok repeated DAP's call to Keadilan to give way "so that a three-cornered fight could be averted, especially as the party had already contested in the Likas by-election."

Yesterday, DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock said he conveyed his party's decision to contest the by-election to Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and hoped that Keadilan would give way to DAP. However, Keadilan named its choice for Gaya after a meeting last night.

The by-election was called after the Federal Court on Sept 3 upheld the Election Court's findings and found Yong Teck Lee, who is also the former Sabah chief minister guilty of corrupt practices in the 1999 Sabah election.

This led to Yong being disqualified as the member of Parliament for Gaya and was forced to vacate the Likas seat as well.

Election Commission chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman then declared that the nomination day for the by-election would fall on Oct 3 and polling on Oct 12.

A by-election was not called for the Likas seat since the state election will be held in less than two years.

Multi-cornered fight

Kok told malaysiakini this evening that the party would contest the Gaya seat even if it is a multi-cornered fight.

"Unfortunately, it looks like a three or four-cornered fight," she lamented.

On the possibility for further negotiation with Keadilan, she said that would be unlikely.

"I have been informed by the press that Keadilan is not keen to discuss with DAP on the matter anymore", Kok added.

Meanwhile, another opposition party Malaysia Democratic Party (MDP) has not decided whether to enter the fray or not.

Party's secretary-general Wee Choo Keong told malaysiakini when contacted today that the party was still deliberating on the matter. He declined further comment.

The Barisan Nasional has yet to announce its candidate. The ruling coalition is waiting for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to return from overseas to make the final decision on the BN's choice.