The 11th general election could well lay the foundation for the opposition to form the new government in the near future. Top leaders of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) will therefore be fielded in 'highly winnable' seats, said vice-president Tian Chua.

In projecting this vision at the launch of Keadilan's election campaign today, Chua said it was crucial for these leaders to secure victory in order to represent the public interest over the next five years.

"This is not an one-off election for the party, ultimately we want to be the government and not just an opposition," he said.

Keadilan is targeting for 10 parliamentary and 10 state seats. It won five parliamentary and four state seats in the last election in 1999.

Chua said the party deemed 'safe seats' to be those with a mixed racial composition, but cautioned that it is difficult to predict this with any certainty.

He also said Keadilan would announce its candidates only after Barisan Nasional (BN) unveiled its list.

"This is because we may need certain minor adjustments after BN names its candidates," he told reporters.

He refused to comment on the number of seats that Keadilan would contest, saying the party is still negotiating with PAS and former ally DAP over several seats.

Possible seats

Among the key leaders who will contest are Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, her deputy Dr Syed Husin Ali, secretary-general Abdul Rahman Osman, Tian Chua and fellow vice-presidents R Sivarasa and Azmin Ali, and Youth chief Mohd Exam Mohd Nor.

Their photos have been included in an election poster designed to introduce the candidates during the campaigning.

Media liaison spokesperson and Youth vice chief Low Chee Cheong said Syed Husin had shown "positive signs" about contesting, although he had earlier intended to retire and to make way for younger leaders.

Low said Syed Husin, a former university lecturer, had reconsidered his decision after receiving advice from other veteran politicians.

If he does stand, he is likely to re-contest the Petaling Jaya Selatan parliamentary seat, which he lost to MCA leader and Deputy Information Minister Donald Lim by 3,845 votes (Lim - 24,581 and Syed Husin - 20,736) in the last election.

Low also hinted that Chua may be fielded in either the Batu or Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

In the last outing, Keadilan had made a strong showing in these seats but its candidates - Dr Sanusi Osman and Dr Chandra Muzaffar - lost narrowly.

Chua, according to Low, will contest in "a place where the reformasi movement emerged".

However, malaysiakini learnt that DAP is preparing to field a woman candidate in Batu. If so, Chua may take on MCA's Tan Chai Ho in Bandar Tun Razak.

Nurul Izzah yet to decide

Wan Azizah is expected to defend the Permatang Pauh seat, while Sivarasa is expected to re-contest in Ampang (formerly known as Ampang Jaya), where he lost to MCA Youth chief Ong Tee Keat previously.

Asked if Wan Azizah's eldest daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar (photo) would enter the fray, Low said she had been nominated by several branches including Wangsa Maju and Lembah Pantai but had yet to accept any offer.

Low said there was "more than a 50 percent chance" that the Ezam would stand against Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Pekan, even though the seat does not qualify as a "winnable" one.

However, it is believed that Ezam has been offered a safe parliamentary seat by PAS in Kelantan.

According to Low, the party would field about 40 Chinese candidates.