DAP today criticised Keadilan over its claims concerning the Indera Kayangan by-election results and described the conflicting versions provided by several party leaders on the voting trend as "ridiculous".

In a press statement, DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said: "The claims are so conflicting as to range from an increase of Chinese votes for Keadilan as far apart as some 240 votes to 840 votes as compared to 1999."

Lim also called on Keadilan's top leadership to stop its leaders from giving diametrically conflicting analyses of the results which he termed as "ridiculous".

The veteran politician said DAP officials were prepared to work with their counterparts in Keadilan to analyse the voting trends in the Indera Kayangan by-election.

He said a true and correct picture of the voting pattern was needed to develop the strategy to counter Barisan Nasional's electoral trump cards - the Sept 11 terror attacks on America and the Taliban atrocities in Afghanistan.

In last Saturday's by-election, BN candidate and retired school headmistress Oui Ah Lan, defeated Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong with a majority of 2,592 votes.

The Indera Kayangan state seat fell vacant following the death of BN state assembly representative Khor Liang Tee last month.

Conflicting versions

Immediately after the results were announced, Keadilan leaders claimed the party managed to obtain a 30 percent increase in Chinese votes.

On Sunday, a Keadilan Chinese leader told Sin Chew Jit Poh that Khoo secured an increase of about 800 Chinese votes but Malay votes plummeted from 60 percent in1999 to 30 percent.