DAP today said it will consider re-joining Barisan Alternatif if PAS is prepared to admit its errors the enactment of hudud laws in the party-controlled states and its Islamic state ambition.

In a press statement, DAP deputy chairperson Karpal Singh said: "It is not too late for PAS to atone for its political blunders and pave the way for a real two-party system by repealing hudud laws passed by the Kelantan and Terengganu state assemblies."

"The ball is in Hadi's (PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang) court. He should not miss the opportunity to turn BA into a viable opposition with DAP rejoining its ranks, " he added.

DAP withdrew from the opposition coalition after crossing swords with PAS over the latter's aim to establish an Islamic state should it come into power.

Karpal said Hadi, who is also Terengganu menteri besar, should realise that alienating the Chinese in the country by passing hudud laws and setting up an Islamic state will lead to BA's defeat in the coming general election.

"In the national interest, PAS should review its stand on Islamic state and hudud laws which have alarmed not only non-Muslims but also Muslims in the country," he added.

According to the veteran politician, it is idle for PAS to say the party's victory in the Anak Bukit by-election was proof that Muslims supported the controversial hudud laws.

However, in a news report today, Hadi conceded that PAS' defeat in the Pendang by-election was caused by its failure to obtain Chinese votes.

The Thursday's by-elections for the Pendang parliamentary and Anak Bukit state seats in Kedah were called following the death of PAS president Fadzil Noor last month.

Karpal also urged Keadilan and PRM the two other BA component parties to be "bold enough" to pressure PAS to repeal its hudud laws and give up its intention to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state.

Uncalled for statements

PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter beyond saying, "Karpal has made statements which are uncalled for, especially in this by-elections," he said.

Meanwhile, Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the party always maintained that BA component parties were based on the common manifesto, set out prior to the Nov 1999 general election.

"We have common grounds, as per the common manifesto, which PAS had also agreed on. We've always welcomed DAP back into the fold," she told malaysiakini .

"In fact, we have been supportive of candidates from other BA component parties during previous by-elections, such as Ketari (the by-election in Pahang this March in which DAP contested and lost to Barisan Nasional) ."