While Barisan Alternatif (BA) leaders today welcomed DAP's decision to stay in the opposition alliance, Sarawak DAP maintains that it still wants out of the coalition at state-level.

Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar said DAP's decision after a party brainstorm over the weekend in Port Dickson, was a reflection of the party's commitment to BA's struggle for a just and democratic Malaysia.

"The DAP leadership has been instrumental in sustaining the front as a multi-ethnic coalition through all the trials and tribulations of the last 21 months," he told malaysiakini today.

Chandra was referring to the decision of the DAP leadership to reaffirm the party's role in the BA front to restore justice, freedom, democracy and good governance in the country.

However, Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng told malaysiakini that they were not budging from their decision to pull out of the BA in that state-level despite the decision taken by the national DAP leaders.

The Sarawak DAP decided to pull out from the state level alternative front, comprising DAP, Keadilan and State Reform Party (Star), due to various issues, ranging from the Lunas state by-election candidacy episode to fear of PAS' Islamisation of the country.

PD Conference

The two-day conference in PD was a result of discontent in the party after its candidate S Neelamekam was rejected by the front for the Nov 29 Lunas by-election.

Neelamekam was dropped in favour of the eventual winner, Keadilan's Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

DAP secretary- general Kerk Kim Hock said the party had decided at the conference that rather than pulling out of BA, the party intends to reaffirm its role in it.

Chandra added that BA was poised to move to greater heights with DAP reaffirming its commitment to the front.

"Keadilan agreed with DAP that issues such as the principle of consensus in decision making; constituency allocation; perceived marginalisation of the Indian minority; and the idea of an Islamic state should continue to be discussed with the BA leaders," said Chandra.

He added that the BA leaders have been discussing these matters in a sincere and candid manner.

Difficult environment

He also said that BA has achieved a measure of solidarity which was unexpected by the opposition leaders in the initial months although it was operating in a difficult environment.

"BA is operating within an environment in which Barisan Nasional is hell-bent on destroying any attempt to forge an alternative relationship among opposition parties," he said.

PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali also welcomed DAP's decision to stay with the alternative front.

"At no time we felt that they will leave the front," he told malaysiakini .

Syed Husin added that it was now time for the coalition partners to work together to strengthen the front to resolve all teething problems.

"We must also have a clear programme so that we are not accused of not taking care of our supporters from the minority group," he said.

Autonomous stand

According to Kerk, at the conference, DAP leaders reviewed the party's position in the BA as well as the worsening political situation in the country in the 12 months after the general elections.

"The leadership also reviewed the refusal of BN government to carry out political, economic, racial and educational reforms," he said in a statement.

Kerk added that from the conference, DAP leadership reached an agreement to reaffirm its role in BA and also to ensure that the various problems in the BA are addressed.

On the decision of Sarawak DAP to quit the state BA, Kerk said that the party will decide on that matter at its next meeting.

However, state chairman Wong said that he expects the national leadership to endorse Sarawak DAP's resolution to stand on its own for the upcoming state elections.

"The party had always recognised Sarawak DAP's autonomy to make its own decisions and our decisions will be more likely to be adhered to by the national leaders," said Wong.

He said that he was not sure when the party leaders will make a decision on the matter, but added that he expected it to come soon as the state elections are imminent.