We won’t join new Pakatan if PAS does, DAP tells PKR

(Malay Mail Online) – DAP is putting its foot down, saying it will keep out of a new proposed opposition coalition tentatively dubbed Pakatan Rakyat 2.0 if PKR insists on having PAS in it, according to party leaders.

The DAP leaders said there is too much bad blood between the two former allies, adding that it would be impossible to work with PAS as long as the Islamist party is still led by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

“We cannot work with PAS under Hadi Awang, unless they are prepared to depart from the various stands they have taken,” DAP Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh told Malay Mail Online.

“With the leadership of PAS right now, it is not possible,” he added, referring to the proposed new opposition coalition.

Ramkarpal said that the only way that DAP might review its resistance to PAS was if the Islamist party was prepared to adhere to common policies adopted by all other opposition parties.

PAS previously departed from PR’s Common Policy Framework with its push for hudud, which eventually led to the dissolution of the pact.

“It is better before any parties to work together, a clear framework should be drawn out and agreed to,” he added.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke concurred, pointing out that DAP’s stand on PAS has been consistent and clear ever since PR broke up earlier this year.

“We do not agree with PAS joining the new coalition, we will not want to have any ties with PAS after we broke up with them,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Loke also sought to play down PKR’s attempts to court PAS to join the new PR, saying that discussions were still at preliminary stages.

“PAS has also got conflicting statements on whether they want to join the new Pakatan. But DAP is clear we will not join a coalition with PAS in it,” the Seremban MP stressed.

Other DAP leaders contacted by Malay Mail Online declined to comment on the matter.

On Monday, PKR urged opposition parties to cease hostilities between themselves- and after a meeting with PAS, PKR said all the four parties — itself, DAP, PAS and Parti Amanah Negara — should redirect their focus to common enemy Barisan Nasional (BN).

PKR and PAS were expected to discuss a new opposition coalition to replace the defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said talks are still ongoing with no conclusion anytime soon.

PAS said earlier it will remain in the opposition bloc when Parliament reconvenes next month, but has not made a decision on joining a new pact with the other three parties.

PR, comprising PKR, PAS and the DAP, broke up earlier this year over PAS’ renewed push to enforce hudud in Kelantan.

DAP has since insisted it will not join any coalition with PAS in it.