open LABS, "/software/polaris-mfcf/data/local/w.stat" 
   or die "Unable to open file: $!\n";

##</code><code>##

open LABS, ("/software/polaris-mfcf/data/local/w.stat" 
   or die "Unable to open file: $!\n")

##</code><code>##

open (LABS, "/software/polaris-mfcf/data/local/w.stat") 
   or die "Unable to open file: $!\n";