PAS will not field a candidate for the upcoming Gaya by-election in Sabah in order to allow its opposition front ally, Keadilan, to contest the parliamentary seat in a straight fight with Barisan Nasional.

According to a Bernama report today, PAS Sabah commissioner Dr Datu Bandira Datu Alang said he hopes that DAP will do the same.

He said PAS felt that the chances for an opposition victory would be greater if it is a one-against-one contest.

"Apart from this, we (PAS) want to concentrate our efforts on establishing our party machinery to face the Sabah state election," he was quoted as saying.

PAS' decision not to contest was made at a special meeting last Saturday.

Commenting further on DAP's decision to stand in the by-election, Datu Bandira said the party should compromise so that the opposition can provide a formidable challenge.

He added that if the two parties were to field their candidates, PAS will support the Keadilan candidate.

"We have already formulated the strategy and are ready to mobilise our election machinery which will be handled 100 percent by locals," he said.

DAP was a former component party in the opposition front Barisan Alternatif but withdrew last September after a fallout with PAS over the latter's ambition to set up an Islamic state.

Three-cornered fight

Last week, both Keadilan and DAP named their candidates causing concern among opposition supporters who fear that a three-cornered fight would benefit BN.

Keadilan's charge will be helmed by the party's Sabah deputy chief Christina Liew while DAP is fielding its Kota Kinabalu division chief Hiew King Cheu.

Meanwhile, Datu Bandira said PAS will raise the issues concerning poverty, demolition of squatter homes belonging to locals and the increase in parking fare during the nine-day campaign period.

The Oct 12 by-election was called when incumbent Yong Teck Lee was disqualified after the Federal Court rejected his appeal against an election court's decision last year which found him guilty of breaching the Election Offences Act.

Yong, who was the former Sabah chief minister and president of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) also lost his Likas state seat.

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