A DAP powerhouse heaped criticisms on non-Muslim leaders in PRM and Keadilan, urging them to be "realistic and pragmatic" in their stand on hudud laws that are espoused by their coalition partner PAS.

DAP deputy chairperson Karpal Singh said the two are multiracial parties in Barisan Alternatif can ill-afford to support PAS which is all out to set up an Islamic state in Malaysia.

Karpal expressed surprise that non-Muslims leaders in Keadilan and PRM "do not see the logic of it being component of a coalition that is led by PAS", particularly with the recent death of its president Fadzil Noor whom he called "a liberal".

"[PAS] leadership has passed on to [Terengganu Menteri Besar] Abdul Hadi Awang who has always been regarded as a hawk. An extremist PAS is set to become the order of the day," said Karpal in a press statement today.

"The writing on the wall is more than clear. Keadilan and PRM should not behave like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand, oblivious to what is going on around it," he said, adding, "It is high time both Keadilan and PRM got their priorities right."

Karpal said if the two parties believe in multiracial politics they should review their membership in the BA and join hands with the DAP to put up a viable opposition to the Barisan Nasional in the coming general election.

Karpal was responding to a newspaper report today which quoted Hadi, who is acting PAS president, as saying that PAS will go ahead with its plan to implement its version of hudud law in Terengganu despite strong protests from many parties and organisations.

In the report, Hadi said he believed that those opposing the Bill will eventually accept it after they are properly informed of what he termed as "fair and just" rule under the hudud law.

Respect

The hudud bill has come under attack by various organisations for its alleged discriminatory clauses against women. PAS has responded by having open dialogues with protest groups in Terengganu and Shah Alam, Selangor.

DAP has been aggressively opposing PAS' plans and eventually pulled out of the BA last September due to unresolved differences with PAS vis-a-vis the Islamic state issue.

The party has also stated publicly that it will not assist PAS in the coming Anak Bukit and Pendang by-elections campaign which will start on July 10, nomination day.

The July 18 by-elections come following the death of Fadzil, who is the constituencies' state assembly representative and member of parliament respectively, on June 23.

In an immediate response, Keadilan supreme council member Ng Lum Yong questioned what the non-Muslims in DAP have done about PAS' insistence on setting up an Islamic state.

"What have they done except criticise PAS in the media? How did they react when Umno declared Malaysia as an Islamic state? Did they hold a demonstration or send a memo to (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad?" Ng said when contacted.

"We instead have had dialogues with PAS leaders, sent them memorandums and wrote them letters telling them our (non-Muslim) views about the Islamic state and hudud laws," he added.

Ng said Keadilan respected PAS' decision to set up an Islamic state and refrained from criticisng it in the media for fear of the facts being twisted to throw BA in a bad light.

He urged DAP leaders to respect Keadilan and PRM as the two parties respected the DAP for its stand against the Islamic state.

Main enemy

Meanwhile, PRM assistant secretary-general Ang Hiok Gai criticised DAP as a "hypocritical and opportunistic" party.

Ang said in the Ketari by-election in March, where Gerakan faced DAP and won, DAP had requested for BA's assistance to garner the support of the Malay/Muslim voters.

"When they need help, they sing a different tune. When they don't (need help), they criticise us," he said.

"Our stand is very clear. We disagree with PAS setting up an Islamic state but Barisan Nasional is our main enemy now. We have to be clear who our enemy is," he added.