Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said it was PAS' right to sue the state government over termination of its members from various official posts.

However, he urged the party not to divert the public's attention from the country's financial woes like the 1MDB scandal.

"We are willing to face the lawsuits and we are not surprised that PAS is suing us, when they don't do the same to the BN government," Lim said at a press conference today.

He was responding to state PAS commissioner Fauzi Mohd Yusof ( photo ) who said the party would be suing the Penang government for sacking its representatives in the local authorities.

Meanwhile, Fauzi's deputy Mohd Fadzil Kemi, who previously held the post as information officer in Lim's office, also said he would be filing a suit for unfair dismissal.

The termination follows Lim's announcement that Pakatan Rakyat no longer exist as PAS muktamar in early June has decided to cut ties with DAP.

The chief minister says he was not surprised as PAS spiritual leader Haron Din had expressed his doubt over the recent Wall Street Journal report that RM2.6 billion of 1MDB funds has been allegedly channelled to the private accounts of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib, who has denied the allegations, even thanked Haron and those who were sceptical of the report, for casting doubts over the US-based newspaper's claims.

New coalition would focus on economy

"The new PAS leadership preferred to believe BN leaders like Najib than opposition leaders like DAP.

"The Penang government would continue to be concerned over the country's economy, unlike PAS, which do not have knowledge about economy or are not interested in the 1MDB scandal.

"We take the issues of economy very seriously like the implementation of the goods and services tax which burdened the people," said Lim, who is the DAP secretary-general.

He said the new opposition coalition of DAP, PKR and PAS progressive leaders known as G18, would focus on economic issues, which are currently "haunting" Malaysians.

Lim cited a survey carried out by a local university in Malacca which showed that 66 percent of the respondents said they would vote for the opposition and "teach BN a lesson" for their GST woes in the coming national polls.

Eighty-eight percent of the respondents are Malays, five percent Indians, four percent Chinese and the remaining three percent are from other ethnic groups, he noted.

"People want a party that can handle economy well, not just those who can talk.

"Economy will be everything for the new party as people want to live better lives.

"Just listening to sweet talk can't make our lives sweet," Lim quipped.