PAS secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa today said the party did not invite DAP to rejoin Barisan Alternatif but was willing to cooperate with its counterpart for the coming general election.

"We understand DAP's opposition to the Islamic state. What our acting president Abdul Hadi Awang said last week was that 'the door is always open' for DAP should they want to return.

"It was not an invitation to rejoin BA," stressed the PAS leader when contacted by telephone.

Nasharuddin added that any cooperation between the two parties for the next general election, does not necessarily mean that DAP would return to the opposition front.

Nasharuddin was clarifying media reports on Sunday which quoted Abdul Hadi inviting the DAP to rejoin the opposition pact to challenge the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election.

DAP rejection

Abdul Hadi had told reporters after chairing the PAS national committee meeting in Kota Baru that the opposition wanted to face Barisan Nasional in a one-to-one fight.

In view of this, he said differences in ideology, policy and objectives should not prevent opposition parties from cooperating.

Abdul Hadi, who is also Terengganu Menteri Besar, added the parties should focus on the election and the Islamic state issue can be discussed later.

In Sept 2001, DAP withdrew from the opposition front after crossing swords with PAS leaders over their theocratic ambition. The other two parties in BA are Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

Following the media reports of the invitation, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said "the question of DAP returning to the BA does not arise anymore" but pledged the party's cooperation with the BA to ensure a straight fight between the opposition and BN for all seats.

Different form

Meanwhile, Nasharuddin added that DAP publicity chief and coordinator for seat allocation Ronnie Liu had confirmed last Friday that what Abdul Hadi had said did not amount to an invitation to rejoin BA.

"According to Ronnie, it was an invitation to work with PAS and BA to fall the common enemy," said the PAS leader.

Nasaruddin explained that the cooperation between PAS and DAP for the upcoming polls could be in a different form.

"PAS is open to any proposal which DAP is comfortable with, as long as it is accepted by both parties.

"What matters is that there should be a one-to-one fight in all seats contested by opposition candidates," he added.

Nasharuddin added that PAS was also open to any political party interested in defeating the ruling coalition in the coming general election.

Since news of the 'invitation' broke out, some BN leaders claimed it proved that PAS was under intense pressure to get partners to perform well in the general elections while others dismissed it as a ploy.