Social activist Dominique Ng is keen to contest the predominantly Chinese seat of Padungan in the next state election but is uncertain whether to use the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ticket or contest as an independent.

This did not go down well with the Sarawak DAP whose chairperson Wong Ho Leng retorted that "we do not deal with individuals'. Apparently, he was referring to an understanding reached at last year's general election where the PKR man would give way to the DAP for the Bandar Kuching seat, in exchange for the Padungan state seat.

But Ng explained that as Padungan has a 95 per cent Chinese electorate, it may not be wise to use the PKR symbol which is seen as a Malay party although it is multi-racial in character.

So he is now in a predicament of sorts on which symbol to use.

The state seats have been increased from the present 62 to 71 for the next elections. Currently, there is only one opposition assemblyperson, Chiew Chin Sing of the DAP who is representing the Kidurong constituency in Bintulu.