PAS must remain in a coalition to strengthen the opposition bloc, said PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz.

The Pasir Mas MP, however, said any coalition must be formed on the basis of mutual respect.

"We are consistent in our belief that to remain strong, opposition parties must form a coalition. We must cooperate in a coalition as far as we can," he told reporters today.

His remarks come as opposition parties try to forge a new coalition following the break up of Pakatan Rakyat, after PAS and DAP butt heads on the implementation of the hudud.

PAS and PKR will meet tomorrow to discuss the matter at the PKR headquarters at 2.30pm.

PKR wants to cooperate with PAS, but DAP refuses to have any pacts with the Islamist party.

PKR also wants to rope in Parti Amanah Negara, a PAS-splinter party, but this is vehemently opposed by PAS.

PKR-PAS cooperation is also under question after Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar crossed over to PKR from PAS last Friday.

Nik Abduh said PAS is " dismayed " by this, and hopes it "does not happen again".

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang earlier did not discout the possibility of PAS abstaining from joining a coalition.

He said this is because PAS' agenda is to uphold Islam, and not to win the 14th general election.

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