DAP deputy chairperson Karpal Singh today advised PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that it would be to PAS' interests not to ignore other opposition parties in its quest to form the next government.

Expressing surprise at Hadi's statement, published in local papers today, that PAS is prepared to form the next government and had set up its "election cabinet", Karpal also wondered what Hadi's motive is to completely sideline Keadilan and PRM who are PAS' fellow partners in the Barisan Alternatif.

"PAS should be realistic. Visions of grandeur in the form of capturing federal power, and in the process sidelining other BA partners, cannot realise its objective to form the next government," he said, adding that PAS has to secure the collective strength of other opposition parties to defeat the Barisan Nasional in the coming elections.

Yesterday, Hadi said in his speech to the 49 th PAS general assembly that the next general election would be "the day of reckoning" and that the time has come for PAS to silence its critics and to tell them that PAS is prepared to form the next government.

Karpal said in a statement that Hadi should not be overawed by his own ego in publicly announcing PAS' plans to take on the BN on its own and form the next government.

Cannon fodder

"Instead, it is important for PAS to demonstrate its bona fides by publicly abandoning its primary objective to set up an Islamic state and an Islamic administration in the states it gains control of in line with its incongruous move to have two manifestos, one for states it hopes to win and the other for federal elections omitting its objective to form an Islamic state at national level".

The DAP leader said that PAS is only giving the BN cannon fodder for attacks in the campaign leading to the elections.

"The 2004 budget is obviously an election budget, and more than a sign of an impending general election.

Therefore, PAS must realise that it would be to their interests that they do not ignore other opposition parties when talking about taking over the government after the next elections, Karpal said.