DAP can work with PAS, BA to defeat BN: Karpal
DAP can collaborate with PAS and other Barisan Alternatif parties to battle the ruling Barisan Nasional in the upcoming general election, said DAP deputy national chairperson Karpal Singh today.
In a press statement, the veteran politician said the differences between DAP and PAS over the latter's ambition to set up an Islamic state should not hamper the cooperation between opposition parties.
This, he added, includes addressing the government's failure in upholding human rights and its inability to eradicate poverty.
It is believed that Karpal's statement was linked to Wednesday's discussion in Kuala Lumpur on the Palestine crisis, attended by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PAS president Fadzil Noor.
The event, organised by the Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim), fuelled talk of a possible cooperation between Umno and PAS on matters related to Islam.
Devise a strategy
However, Karpal reminded opposition parties that their main aim was to defeat the BN in the general election.
In order to realise this, he said, DAP and BA must devise a strategy to ensure that the people do not vote for BN and to safeguard the provision under the Federal Constitution that Malaysia was a secular state, with Islam as the religion of the federation.
"PAS has never declared Malaysia an Islamic state. The party only said that it will set up such a state should it come into power," he added.
Karpal said this means that PAS has never accepted Malaysia as an Islamic state despite Mahathir declaring that it was last year.
"It is clear that the prime minister's declaration was his personal view and not a fact," he added.
DAP, which was PAS' ally in the BA, withdrew from the opposition coalition last September after failing to resolve its differences with the Muslim party concerning its Islamic state ambition.
Karpal added while it was common for political parties to face disappointments, PAS had its own strength which should not be looked down upon.
PAS, which governs Kelantan and Terengganu, has seen its popularity dented following the Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States.
The party has been riddled with accusations of being an extremist and several of its members, including the son of its spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, have been detained for allegedly being members of the Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM).
The police have claimed that KMM was bent on toppling the government through militant means.
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