Desperation has set in the Pakatan Rakyat camp as they struggle to shield their campaign from the onslaught of the BN’s claims that they are condoning the formation of an Islamic state.

The situation seems to have gotten so bad for the opposition that they are now depending on ousted Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin to clear the air and assure voters that the BN propaganda is untrue.

sibu by election 090510 khalid samad and teresa kok visit church DAP has been in a damage control mode over the past two days, reaching out to church-goers of the various denominations around Sibu to canvas for support.

Last night, they brought out their trump card, Nizar, to allay fears of the Christian electorate and explain that PAS' idea of an Islamic state does not include amputations as punishment or diminishing freedom of religion.

Very early on in the campaign for the Sibu parliamentary seat, SUPP has put up banners declaring that a vote for DAP is a vote for PAS and its vision of setting up an Islamic state.

The incumbent party never let up on its attacks, going all the way to demand that DAP convince PAS to amend its party constitution and abandon its plans to establish an administration based on Islamic principles.

NONE SUPP Sibu chief Wong Soon Koh ( right ) said only by doing this can DAP prove that it is capable of speaking for the people of Sibu, where 53 percent of the electorate are Christians.

"(DAP advisor) Lim Kit Siang challenged me to a debate, but I challenge him to request PAS to change its party constitution.

"If Lim cannot do this, there is no point debating with me," Wong said at their daily press conference.

Wong was referring to an earlier challenge from Lim, who demanded that Wong face him mano-a-mano to debate SUPP's campaign slogan that ‘a vote for DAP equals a vote for PAS and an Islamic state’.

DAP going to lose if it cannot recover

Lim, at a separate press conference, conceded that the BN had struck a "killer blow" with the Islamic state issue.

"We are now facing an even tougher situation in this campaign. If we cannot recover, we are going to lose," he said.

NONE Nizar, who was at the press conference, denounced SUPP's attacks as "fitnah besar" (a big lie).

"We want a government that is based on justice, eradicates all forms of corruption and discrimination against any race and religion. This is the main cause of PAS and we share it with DAP."

Nizar also dismissed the allegation that the Islamic party will implement the hudud law, including the amputation of the hands of thieves.

"(PAS spiritual leader) Nik Aziz (Nik Mat) has helmed Kelantan for 20 years, have you seen any non-Muslims' hands amputated?"

He said the issue was outdated, and it is no longer an issue in the Peninsular. "We have reached a consensus and the (Islamic state) issue is settled."

Nizar is scheduled to go to the predominantly Chinese area of Sungai Merah tonight for a ceramah and will help with the campaign machinery until May 13.