PAS' aim to win 40 parliament seats and five states is not possible, unless it has an agreement with Umno, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said. 

"If the history of past general elections is any guide, it is unlikely that in multi-cornered electoral contests in the 14th general elections, PAS could win more than half a dozen parliamentary seats.

"It would be a different scenario, however, if there is some electoral arrangement or alliance between PAS and  Umno, whether at the parliamentary, state or a mixture of parliamentary and state assembly contests," Lim said in a statement today. 

PAS is hoping to retain Kelantan, while also capturing Terengganu, Pahang, Kedah, and Selangor in the next general election. 

It is also looking to field 100 candidates at the parliament level in an effort to achieve its 40 seat goal. 

In the 2013 general election, PAS fielded 73 candidates and won 21 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. 

On the quest for five states, Lim questioned whether PAS can hold on to Kelantan in the absence of former spiritual leader, the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat. 

As for Terengganu and Kedah, the Gelang Patah MP expressed doubt that PAS can win enough seats to form the state government. 

"PAS goal of capturing the Pahang and Selangor state governments are most far-fetched when even under the Pakatan Rakyat banner in the 2013 general election, it could only win three out of 42 seats in Pahang and 15 out of 56 seats in Selangor," he added. 

Thus he said, such goals were not possible without a pact with Umno. 

However, Lim queried whether Umno president Najib Abdul Razak could convince the party's grassroots to pave the way for PAS' victory. 

He said if Umno conceded 40 seats to PAS, it would be left with 100 seats to contest in Peninsular Malaysia. 

"For the first time, PAS may end up with more or almost equal number of  parliamentary seats as Umno in Peninsular Malaysia," he said. 

Umno and PAS had warmed up to each other last year, over plans to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 and other matters concerning the Muslim community. 

Najib, during Umno's 71st anniversary bash last week, made overtures to PAS, painting DAP as a common enemy for both parties. 

PAS however maintains that it will serve as a third force in politics, and not ally itself politically with Umno.

This is expected to turn the upcoming general election into three-cornered fights between BN led by Umno, PAS, and the Pakatan Harapan coalition.