DAP has directed its members to relinquish the official positions they hold in the states of Kelantan and Terengganu, which are governed by its one-time ally PAS.

In a brief statement today, party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said this was due to irreconcilable differences with PAS over the latter's Islamic state objective, details of which were made public on Nov 12.

"Their continued appointment in the two PAS state governments (Kelantan and Terengannu) has become untenable with the Islamic State objective," he explained.

Kerk said the decision, reached at a central executive committee meeting last night, would affect a total of 19 members.

This will include a special assistant to Terengganu Menteri Besar and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as well as five municipal and district councilors.

In September 2001, DAP withdrew from the opposition front Barisan Alternatif (BA) which also comprises PAS after crossing swords over the Islamic state issue.

Abdul Hadi could not be reached for comment while party secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa when contacted declined to comment until the respective state governments respond.

However, PAS Kubang Kerian MP Husam Musa urged DAP to be more mature and reassess their actions in view of the larger issues facing the people.

"PAS alone cannot obtain a two-thirds majority in Parliament, as it needs the help of the other allies. As such, the Islamic State can't actually be achieved at this time.

"Without PAS and DAP supporting each other, there is not much chance in the opposition gaining much support from the people," he said.

Branch dissolved

In another development, the DAP national leadership last night also decided to dissolve the party's Triang branch in Pahang with immediate effect.

Kerk did not give any specific reasons for the termination but referred to a sub clause of the party constitution which gives the CEC powers to dissolve any branch committee if it is satisfied that their existence is "detrimental to the interest of the party".

In the meantime, Kerk said party assistant organising secretary Seah Long Peng has been appointed to stand in as chairperson of the new Triang branch committee.

He added that Seah's committee will function until the next branch annual general meeting due next year.

DAP has had difficulty with the Triang branch leaders for some time now due to disagreement over the relationship that the party should have with its former allies in the BA.

Triang branch leaders are known to be closely allied with their PAS counterparts.

Triang state assemblyperson Leong Ngah Ngah last raised the national leadership's ire when he defied party orders to stay out of the Pendang and Anak Bukit by-elections this July and instead actively campaigned for the PAS candidates at the two constituencies.

The two seats were made vacant following the death of then PAS president Fadzil Mohd Noor who served as the state representative for Anak Bukit and parliamentary representative for Pendang.

Both Leong and Kerk were unavailable for comments.