The DAP today responded in kind to recent personal attacks by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang by reminding the Islamic party leader that he was not living in the Middle East.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said that Abdul Hadi's does not "seem to understand ... that we are in the first decade of a new millennium and not a few centuries ago".

He also likened Abdul Hadi and his contemporary Nik Aziz Nik Mat to the conservative and intolerant Iranian clerics.

Lim added that this was true especially on the matter pertaining to their objections of placing Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) deputy leader Dr Syed Husin Ali as a candidate in Kota Bharu.

"He also made completely uncalled for and scurrilous attack on Karpal Singh (DAP deputy chairperson) and me when he said we were outdated leaders," said Lim in a statement.

Shelf life

These sort of remarks, said the DAP strongman, also raises questions about Abdul Hadi's suitability as a national leader, who can represent all Malaysians.

On Thursday, Abdul Hadi had labelled both Lim and Karpal as "medicine whose shelf life had expired" and said that "they were more relevant to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s".

The Terengganu menteri besar added that the two DAP bigwigs, who are making a comeback in the coming general election after losing in 1999, were not adapted to the changed political scenario that "necessitates a different approach."

Lim will be contesting in the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat while Karpal is trying his luck in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat in Penang.

Lim said that if DAP leaders were to reciprocate to such attacks, they would say that "Hadi is not relevant at all to the 21st century ... and that he does not seem to understand that he is not living in the Middle East".

Apology

DAP leaders were not the only ones to be within the firing range of Hadi and other PAS leaders.

Their questioning of the suitability of Syed Husin's candidacy also irked PAS' ally in the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition, Keadilan.

Nik Aziz, backed by Abdul Hadi, had said that Syed Husin's personality was coloured by his "unIslamic" and "socialist" image, making him unsuitable to contest in Kota Bharu, the capital of Kelantan, the state in which Nik Aziz has been the menteri besar since 1990.

Syed Husin, who is also the chairperson of the Parti Rakyat Malaysia, has since withdrawn from contesting in that seat, a move which many say will see his retirement from active politics.

Lim said the attack of Syed Husin was unfair and cruel and that the PAS leaders should apologise to the veteran opposition leader.

Fragile opposition

Lim also said Abdul Hadi's behaviour was a proof that the DAP was right in pulling out of BA, the opposition front formed just befor the 1999 general election.

DAP withdrew from the coalition in September 2001 following a fallout over PAS' aim to set up an Islamic state if it comes to power.

The opposition party has been a vocal opponent to the Islamic state concept and is making it the key issue in the March 21 elections.

"There is no doubt that if Karpal and I had fully supported the PAS concept of an Islamic state, Hadi would have praised both of us sky-high as leaders worthy even for the next century," said Lim.

This latest round of tit-for-tat will definitely widen the rift in the already fragile relationship between the opposition parties and there are fears that this would dampen their chances in the elections next Sunday.

As it is, the opposition parties are involved in more than 20 three-cornered fights - with at least 19 seats involving DAP and Keadilan - with ruling Barisan Nasional for both parliamentary and state seats.