Keadilan, which is in talks with DAP to avoid clashing in the next general election, claimed it has been given "difficult seats" by its former Barisan Alternatif (BA) partner.

The two parties held their first meeting on March 21 and were scheduled to hold their second yesterday. Upon Keadilan's request, however, the meeting will now be held next week.

The Keadilan team includes supreme council members Dr A Xavier Jayakumar and Khalid Jaafar and deputy Youth chief Low Chee Cheong. DAP is represented by national publicity chief Ronnie Liu, central executive committee member Teresa Kok and Youth wing secretary Loke Siew Fook.

'Difficult seats'

Contacted yesterday, Jayakumar said the party's members were unhappy with DAP's attitude during the first round of talks.

He said that, if DAP o­nly wants to contest in "traditional and safe seats", then it should be prepared for three-cornered fights in the general election, due by November 2004.

"(DAP) always asks for their so-called traditional seats and constituencies with a Chinese majority. But they have to know that Keadilan has equally strong leaders as well as Chinese leaders for those seats," he said.

"Our people have asked why our party does not (ignore DAP) and contest all (seats). But that would be a disaster for the opposition."

Asked to elaborate o­n the "difficult seats" for Keadilan, he named Titiwangsa, Bandar Tun Razak and Batu as examples in Kuala Lumpur.

"Those seats are either under senior Barisan Nasional leaders and ministers, or are BN strongholds. It will be very tough for us (to win)," he said.

Titiwangsa is held by Deputy Health Minister Dr Suleiman Mohamed (Umno) while Bandar Tun Razak is under Deputy Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Chai Ho (MCA). Batu is a Gerakan stronghold.

Jayakumar claimed, too, that DAP had requested a "loose arrangement" for the next meeting, and questioned if this meant a change of the basis o­n which the talks are being conducted.

'Better position

'

He also said DAP should be aware of the current political scenario and be more "mature and open" in dealing with it.

"Seputeh, Cheras, Bukit Bintang and Kepong are (DAP) strong seats. We didn't disturb the current places (of DAP). But (they can't) take all comfortable seats. Give us a chance," he said.

"DAP should know well, that, without other opposition parties such as PAS, they wouldn't be able to win. They have refused to work with PAS at all, and now o­nly we are willing to negotiate with them.."

DAP pulled out of BA in September 2001 after crossing swords with PAS over its ambition to set up an Islamic state. However, it later indicated willingness to work with Keadilan despite the latter's affiliation with PAS in the opposition front, which includes PRM.

"DAP should know its position. In fact, Keadilan appears to have a better position in the election since we are multi-racial. We are also far better than they are in terms of mobilising people," Jayakumar claimed.

He, however, welcomed a statement by DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang, during a branch dinner last Sunday, that DAP was willing to join forces with Keadilan to contest in Penang.

Keadilan had, o­n Saturday, expressed its intention to contest 60 percent of the state seats in Perak, Penang and Selangor. Jayakumar said he was hopeful that more than 90 percent of the seat allocation could be confirmed in the next three months.

DAP response

DAP's Liu, asked to comment o­n Jeyakumar's claims, said these were "interesting" allegations. He said the talks had not yet reached the stage where details of seat allocations are being discussed, let alone mention of the three 'difficult seats'.

"They have not told us which seat they want to contest, so how can they make such allegations?" Liu asked.

Asked to explain the 'loose arrangement' that DAP wants, he said there should be "flexibility" during the talks. It will, however, use the 1999 election result as the reference point in seat distribution.

"This is all based o­n win-ability, for which you need to have capital and strength....(Keadilan) are being childish, not serious and unprofessional (over the negotiations)," he said.

Asked how 'win-ability' would be measured, Liu replied: "How many dinners you have organised, how many ceramah you have organised, how many strong leaders you have in the constituency...this is the yardstick. (Keadilan) can't even show it is the (ability to win), (so) how does it want to negotiate?"

He told Keadilan to give up seats which the latter will not win, because "the issue is (about) how many seats you can win, not how many seats you want to contest".

Liu, also alleged that Keadilan was delaying the negotiations and that it had given short notice for the postponement.