DAP will not consider rejoining Barisan Alternatif until the Islamic state issue is resolved, said the partys publicity chief Ronnie Liu.

He was responding to renegade DAP leader Goh Kheng Huats call on the party to consider rejoining the BA, as reported in English daily New Straits Times today.

Goh, who is the member of Parliament for Nibong Tebal, was recently given a stern warning by the partys disciplinary committee for defying the directive barring all DAP members from having anything to do with the Indera Kayangan by-election in January.

This is not the first time a party member made such proposal, Liu said, adding that Pahang DAP state leader Leong Ngah Ngah, who is also the state assembly member for Triang, had made a similar proposal before.

Liu admitted that some DAP members wish to return to BA, but argued that the Islamic state issue is in the way.

He disagreed with Gohs assertion that this point of contention is not a big issue among the ethnic Chinese.

At this point of time, we cannot say that this issue is not important, he said.

According to him, other religious groups are not in favour of an Islamic state.

He cited the January statement by Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism, which voiced their concern on the matter.

Not ideology change

Liu however said that the issue can be resolved if PAS is willing to put aside its ambition without giving up their ideology.

The DAP leader added that Malaysians are interested in a better Malaysia, not a change in ideology.

Queried on how PAS could possibly give up its Islamic credentials which is the partys raison dêtre , he said: PAS gets a lot of support because of the peoples desire for reform, not because they want an Islamic state.

As long as PAS doesnt harp on the issue, we dont see why we cant work together.

PAS stated intention to set up an Islamic state in Malaysia should it come to power has been sorely contested by DAP which insisted that the BA manifesto should be adhered to and that a secular system works best in a multi-racial, multi-religious country. Following an impasse on the matter, DAP pulled out from the opposition front last September.