Several key PAS leaders have ruled out the possibility of any immediate arrangements being made with Chinese-based political parties to form a new government after the general election.

Newspapers today quoted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as saying that the party would negotiate with "top" Chinese parties to form the government if the opposition coalition gains more parliamentary seats than Umno.

The Chinese parties in Malaysia are Barisan Nasional component parties MCA and Gerakan, and DAP which was once an ally of PAS.

PAS secretary-general Nasaruddin Mat Isa told malaysiakini that Hadi's comment was merely an "idea by the president" and that no thorough discussion has been held.

"We don't know what is going to happen... but there will be possibilities (for a pact)," he said.

Hadi's special assistant, Zaihan Mohd Daud, said Hadi had only made a "loose statement" without specifying that anything in particular.

"He was referring to possibilities because political possibilities can happen. He was not exactly pinpointing an actual arrangement," Zaihan said.

He explained that the party had to be ready with different options, should the need arise.

Pacts 'nothing new'

PAS central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli said suggestions to co-operate with non-Malay parties were not new.

"We have made pacts before with non-Malay parties and these have proved to be quite acceptable. We can form a working relationship with anyone," he said, when asked if the pact would work in light of PAS' previous brickbats against Chinese-based parties.

He described Hadi's statement as an effort to reach out to the non-Malay community.

"We just want to open up to the non-Malays. It is not just Umno alone that can work with non-Malay parties," he said .

In 1999, PAS, DAP, Keadilan and PRM, had formed Barisan Alternatif to pool opposition strengths in contesting the general election. DAP subsequently pulled out following disagreement with PAS over its Islamic state policy.

Poles apart

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice president Dr S Vijayaratnam said that his party will never consider joining forces with PAS and advised the PAS president to concentrate just on Kelantan and Terengganu in the coming general election.

"The respective ideologies are poles apart ... Gerakan is loyal to the Barisan Nasional through thick and thin," he said in a statement.

He said that the remarks by Hadi was a political ploy and a weak attempt to sow discord amongst the BN component parties.

"I would like to inform PAS that it will not work. As for Hadi, he is having a dream that will never materialise."