Pakatan Rakyat would still be around if PAS did not push forth its syariah reforms agenda, the Islamist party's vice-president Iskandar Samad said.

However, Iskandar said, PAS pushed ahead with its agenda nonetheless, claiming the party is not opportunistic.

"If we are really opportunistic and only do things for votes, we wouldn't do this (push for syariah law amendments).

"If we wanted political gains, we wouldn't do it, and Pakatan would still be around.

"But we did this because this is our responsibility," Iskandar said at a ceramah in Kampung Pandan, Selangor, last night.

Pakatan - the opposition pact comprising PAS, PKR and DAP - collapsed in mid-2015 when DAP and PAS could not agree over the latter's push to enact strict Islamic criminal laws in Kelantan.

The 2015 amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment passed that October allowed for hudud punishment, such as amputation for theft.

However it was not enforceable due to federal limitations set out under the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act (Act 355) - which is three years' jail, RM5,000 fine, or six strokes of the cane.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang then brought forth his Private Member’s Bill to amend Act 355 and remove the punishment cap, except for the death penalty.

Hadi last November revised the bill to increase the punishment cap to 30 years' jail, RM100,000 fine or 100 strokes of the cane.

PAS finally severed ties with PKR, its last Pakatan ally, over the latter’s alleged opposition to these amendments.

Pakatan parties PKR and DAP regrouped with PAS splinter party Amanah to form the new Pakatan Harapan coalition last year.

Umno offshoot Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) formally joined Harapan this year.

PAS has formed its own coalition with another Umno breakaway, Parti Ikatan Negara (Ikatan).

The split in the opposition is widely expected to cause three-cornered fights in the next general election.