Not surprisingly, DAP and PKR are at it again. This is a repeat of 2004 where the parties haggled over the right to contest Ipoh Timur, now held by Opposition Leader and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Again, the Chinese-majority seat in Perak is a ‘thorn’ in the negotiations between the two opposition allies for the upcoming general election. Key leaders openly locked horns over the right to contest the ‘winnable’ seat of Ipoh Timur today.

PKR veep Dr Lee Boon Chye (photo) told Malaysiakini today that “if his party and DAP are unable to reach a compromise on seat allocation in Perak, then we are prepared for three-cornered fights, including in Ipoh Timur”.

“If there is no settlement, it’s a free-for-all scenario. PKR is free to contest any seat in the state even if it means slugging it out against DAP and BN,” Lee declared.

Asked why the two parties were unable to come to a settlement, the PKR vice-president declined to comment.

However, it is an open secret that PKR has several non-Malay candidates who are keen to contest in Chinese-majority seats in Perak. But DAP feels this is encroaching on its traditional territory.

In 2004, Lee was also eyeing Ipoh Timur but following DAP’s insistence to field Kit Siang there, PKR gave way and Lee went to Gopeng instead. Kit Siang won and Lee was defeated.

This time around, PKR feels that DAP should return the favour by giving way to Lee to vie in Ipoh Timur.

Guan Eng: We are ready

In an immediate response, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blared, “If PKR wants to contest in Ipoh Timur, then we say it is a democratic country and they have every right to do so. But we are prepared to face them".

Asked the reason for the stalemate, Guan Eng would only say that DAP has done its best to accommodate the needs of both sides.

"We are currently waiting for PKR to give their response to our proposals regarding the seat allocations and hope that it can be finalised before Chinese New Year," he added.

So far, DAP and PKR have successfully finalised the seat negotiation exercise in Penang as well as the state seats in Negri Sembilan.

A disappointed Kit Siang has expressed his unhappiness in the deadlock in some states, saying that the negotiations were taking too much time.

The DAP veteran also remarked that he was agreeable to a three-cornered contest in Ipoh Timur but that other seats should be straight fights with the BN.

Meanwhile, DAP launched its election mascot, ‘Rocket Kid’, at its party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

“The mascot targets the younger generation and it symbolises friendliness and a hope for a better Malaysia.

“This mascot is a signal to the younger generation. We want them to join us in our struggle to create a better future for our country,” said Guan Eng.