Discussions on a new opposition pact, sans PAS, have begun, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said today.

"Of course, PAS is excluded," said Lim, when met at the Aidilfitri event hosted by the offices of the Dewan Negara president and the Dewan Rakyat speaker at Parliament.

Lim explained that the exclusion of PAS was due to its violation of Pakatan Rakyat's common policy framework, which the new coalition would adopt.

"Be it 'New PR', 'PR 2.0' or 'Gerakan Baru'. It is in the process of being formed," he said.

It is understood that a new political entity called Gerakan Harapan Baru is currently in talks with DAP and PKR.

This entity is led by the so-called "progressive" former PAS leaders who were voted out of office in the recent party leadership election.

DAP had unilaterally announced the demise of Pakatan Rakyat after delegates at the PAS 61st muktamar in June accepted a proposal by the dewan ulama to cut ties with DAP, without debate.

 

PAS syura council later decided to sever ties with DAP but continued to work with PKR.

Following Pakatan Rakyat's death, Lim mooted for like-minded Malaysians to form a new coalition to face BN in the next general elections.

PAS was not DAP's puppet

Meanwhile, Lim rebutted a report in Utusan Malaysia which said that DAP's move has weakened PAS.

"It is never DAP's intention to weaken anyone. Our objective is bigger than just to weaken PAS.

"PAS was not our puppet. Only PAS leadership can weaken the party, not DAP," he said.

"Are they going to say that I was a taiko (big brother) in PAS? Go and ask PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ). This is rubbish.

"Politicians have their dignity. It is not possible for them to become anyone's puppet. I can't say for sure about MCA and Gerakan," he said.