Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye will not breathe easy until the last vote is counted and verified in the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, where he faces DAP national vice-chairperson Zukfilfi Mohd Noor.

His rival is a relatively low-profile leader compared to DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang (photo left) in the previous elections, but the Gerakan man will not leave anything to chance, for fear of a "last-minute surprise".

Chia defeated Lim in the 1999 general election with the majority of only 104 votes. Chia gained 24,280 votes while Lim obtained 24,176 votes.

"It is too early to talk about my winning or being confident about a bigger margin. The DAP always has a last-minute surprise or announcement in store. I am wary, regardless of who the candidate is," he said in an interview with malaysiakini in Penang.

He cited the DAP's first Tanjung campaign in 1986 as an example. Gerakan lost badly to DAP because of an issue linked to a Muslim convert issue just as the campaign period was drawing to a close.

"My opponent (this time) may not have a high profile, but his party's tactic to win sympathy could change the atmosphere and lead to people voting for him," Chia said.

Bukit Bendera was a DAP stronghold from 1964-1995. The constituency is dominated by Chinese voters (74 percent) , while Malay (13.8 percent) and Indian (11.1 percent) voters make up the rest.

Chia however said voter turnout on Sunday, polling day, would be a major factor in determining if he will retain the seat.

Test of ideology

If voters' comments are anything to go by, Chia may have little to worry about. At the low-cost flats in Rifle Range Road, those interviewed said the area had been developed after he was elected MP in 1999.

"The road system and infrastructure have been upgraded a lot," said a resident who has lived there for more than 30 years.

Several also shared the opinion that DAP's Zulikifli is an unfamiliar face.

Asked to comment on his chances, Zulkifli said he did not expect to encounter much difficulty with regard to the race factor.

"Race and colour should be put aside in the election, the people are voting for a Malaysian Malaysia (the DAP slogan)... a person of any race can represent a community under the Malaysian's Malaysia," he said in a phone interview.

"It is a high time that DAP fields a national-level Malay leader in this Chinese majority area. If I win, it would show that the people are supportive of the Malaysian Malaysia concept."

Penang-born Zulkifli, 56, took over the post held by another Malay party leader, Ahmad Nor, who died in 2002.

Zulkifli has contested twice in Penang - in the Bayan Lepas state seat in 1995 and Bayan Baru parliamentary seat in 1999 - but was defeated on both occasions.

"Without affiliation with PAS in Barisan Alternatif in this election, DAP is on its own. I believe we can perform better and that Chinese voters will come back to us, especially in Bukit Bendera," he added.

DAP left BA in 2001 after crossing swords with PAS over the latter's intention to establish an Islamic state if it comes to power.