Three-cornered fights appear imminent in Chinese-majority seats as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) and DAP are yet to resolve their differences on overlapping seats with the general election less than two weeks away.

At a press conference today, Penang Keadilan revealed its plan to contest in three Chinese-majority parliamentary and ten state seats, including Bukit Gelugor.

Yesterday, DAP had announced that it would be fielding deputy chairperson Karpal Singh for the new parliamentary seat.

To rub salt into the wound, Keadilan's candidate is former DAP leader and three-term Bukit Bendera parliamentarian Gooi Hock Seng.

The Bukit Gelugor constituency comprises 74 percent Chinese, 15 percent Malay and nine percent Indian voters.

Contacted later, Penang Keadilan deputy chief Teoh Teik Huat defended the move, saying that his party was only eyeing the new seats and those not held by DAP incumbents.

"We didn't touch the DAP incumbent seats, for instance, Bukit Gelugor is a new seat," he added.

However, he said the final decision to contest in the 13 seats depended on the party's negotiations with DAP at the federal level.

The other two parliamentary seats under Penang Keadilan's crosshairs are Batu Kawan and Bayan Baru while the 10 state seats are Bukit Tambun, Machang Bubuk, Pulau Tikus, Padang Kota, Komtar, Sungai Pinang, Seri Delima, Dato Keramat, Air Hitam and Padang Lalang.

Apart from Bayan Baru, DAP is known to be contemplating on contesting all the other seats mentioned above.

Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow when contacted refused to comment, beyond saying that party candidates will receive their appointment letters on Thursday.

No response

Meanwhile, discussions on the federal level between the two parties also appear to be heading for another brick wall.

Quizzed on the progress, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua said nothing has been finalised yet.

"We are still waiting for a response from DAP because they do not want to commit to the final seats allocation proposal (raised at the meeting)," he said when contacted.

He added that the deadline to respond to the proposal expired two days ago.

The Keadilan leader said if the matter is not resolved in time, then three-cornered fights would be the likely scenario.

Tian Chua and fellow vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali are representing Keadilan while DAP's negotiation team comprises treasurer Fong Kui Lun and national organising secretary Tan Kok Wai.

Despite numerous attempts, the DAP duo and party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock could not be reached for comment.

In another development, Penang Keadilan also announced that it has accepted former DAP Nibong Tebal MP Goh Kheng Huat as a member.

Goh revealed his decision to quit DAP last Thursday, citing differences with the leadership. He now plans to defend his seat under a Keadilan ticket.