Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) today urged its estranged ally DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang not to divert the attention from the irregularities in the recent polls by proposing a merger.

"Our priority now is for all opposition parties to join hands and focus in collecting evidence of discrepancies and hold the Election Commission (EC) responsible," said party vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali when contacted.

Yesterday, Lim said a merger could only be explored if Keadilan severed its ties and 'subservience' to PAS.

The two parties make up the Barisan Alternatif (BA) coalition, which DAP quit in 2001 after differences with PAS over its aim to form an Islamic state.

'Insincere' proposal

Azmin said the DAP leader was being 'insincere' about the proposal as he had raised it via the media and not through the proper channels.

When pointed out that Lim had classified the proposal as a personal opinion, Azmin said a merger was an important issue between two parties and should not be the opinion of an individual.

He also took the veteran leader to task for asking Keadilan to quit the opposition coalition.

"This is not the time for (DAP) to put into condition if it is sincere about a merger. Don't impose conditions even before we sit down and talk about it," he said.

Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor called on DAP to stop its merger talks with immediate effect.

"We need not entertain such statements, we should concentrate on the EC now," he said.

Another vice-president Tian Chua welcomed the proposal but rejected the condition of quitting the opposition coalition.

He also said the issue of Keadilan being subservient to PAS does not arise as the structure of the coalition was fair to all parties.

Not strong

Meanwhile, DAP central executive council member and Perak state chief Ngeh Koo Ham said the merger proposal is a good start for multi-racial politics in the long run.

"A party should not take racial politics as a basis. We also welcome (Barisan Nasional's) Gerakan or PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) to join us if they are willing," said the Sitiawan state representative.

"PAS is not a party to rely on now, it is no longer a strong party," he added.

Responding to a question, Ngeh said the differences between Keadilan and DAP over seat negotiations will not hamper a merger process as his party 'forgives and forgets'.

Another council member Teresa Kok said the party headquarters had been flooded with phone calls after the merger issue was highlighted.

"They are upset and disappointed with Kit Siang and questioned why we should go back to working with an Islamic party. So the perception is there, people equate Keadilan with PAS," she added.

As for her opinion on the proposal, the Seputeh parliamentarian said a merger could help strengthen the opposition force. "Keadilan only has one (parliamentary) seat. They cannot stand on their own feet anymore," she added.

Like a marriage

On the condition that Keadilan must severe its ties with PAS, Kok said this was a prerequisite.

"A merger is just like a marriage. You wouldn't marry someone who doesn't share the same goals and ideology with you right?" she asked.

In a related development, Lim today reiterated that Keadilan must 'free' itself from PAS.

"There will be no condition or basis to explore the possibility of a merger between DAP and Keadilan if the latter has not left BA and freed itself from subservience to the PAS Islamic state objective," he said in a statement to the Keadilan leaders who dismissed the possibility of quitting the opposition coalition.

In the recently concluded general election, DAP performed credibly by winning 25 parliamentary and state seats while Keadilan and PAS were massacred.

After a five-year hiatus, Lim will return to Parliament following his thumping victory at the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat, which he won by a 9,774 vote majority.