DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng today asked PAS leaders to "check their facts" before making "untruthful" claims about his attendance record at Pakatan Rakyat leadership meetings as compared to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

PAS leaders had reacted negatively to DAP's public urging that Abdul Hadi attend Pakatan meetings, and Lim it was "regretful" that the Islamic party was trying to "distract attention".

"PAS leaders should check their facts first whether Hadi had attended Pakatan leadership council meetings more than me," he said in a statement today.

Lim said DAP central executive committee's (CEC) unanimous resolution to call for Hadi's attendance was meant to restore public trust and confidence in the coalition, to show that all three component parties keep their promises and fulfill their commitments.

"This is a reasonable request, as Hadi is the only person in PAS with the sole authority to make decisions and who enjoys absolute veto power, even over decisions made by PAS' central committee.

"Whilst Pakatan started off as a coalition of parties comprising PAS, PKR and DAP, it is now essentially PKR, DAP and Abdul Hadi," he added, explaining that it was the reason DAP insists on Hadi's attendance, "out of respect for PAS".

"I regret that PAS leaders have tried to distract attention from this simple truth by claiming that Pakatan can function even in the absence of Hadi," he added.

'DAP, PKR left guessing'

He said with Hadi's absence, PKR and DAP are often forced to play the "guessing game" as to which of their decisions would be vetoed by Hadi.

"It is untenable for any coalition to operate in such a dysfunctional manner if we are to convince Malaysian voters that we have what it takes to replace BN as the next Malaysian government in Putrajaya," he added.

He also said the DAP CEC will wait for Hadi to attend Pakatan leadership meetings before the party is willing to fully assure the public that Pakatan as a whole would be able to commit to its promises.

"I have conveyed DAP’s decision to parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim," said Lim.

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