As an emboldened DAP appears ready to burn bridges with PAS over various disagreements including hudud, the Islamic party today reminded DAP that it cannot win the federal government alone.

 

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said this after acknowledging that the Islamic party's leadership has been getting the impression that DAP is trying to push PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat.

 

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily published today, Mustafa said even BN needed component parties to hold on to Putrajaya.

 

He also speculated that DAP may have given up on Putrajaya and is content with the status quo.

 

"DAP has discredited and demonised PAS, perhaps it thinks it is difficult to capture Putrajaya and is contented with ruling Penang and to win more seats in Sarawak.

 

"Therefor, DAp does not think that it is necessary to cooperate with PAS any more but DAP will never rule the country by relying on its own strength alone," Mustafa was quoted as saying.

 

In the last general election, DAP emerged as the second largest party in Parliament, with 38 parliamentary seats.

 

There has been little goodwill left in DAP for PAS after the Selangor crisis last year, where the Islamic party was seen as a stumbling block in PKR's bid to replace the state's then menteri besar, Khalid Ibrahim ( right ).

 

DAP was highly critical of PAS in the latest bid to implement hudud in Kelantan, citing that the theocratic law is not part of Pakatan common policy framework.

 

However, Mustafa said DAP's push for local elections in Penang was also not endorsed by all three parties in Pakatan as PAS is opposed to it.

 

Nonetheless, he said DAP still pressed on with it and therefore, in the same vein, PAS should be allowed to roll out hudud in Kelantan.

 

Chinese voters asked to be rational

 

He also appealed to Chinese voters to be "rational" about hudud in Kelantan, stressing that PAS still needed their votes.

 

"All we ask for is fair treatment. The Kelantan government had approved the implementation of hudud even before the formation of Pakatan.

 

"If we don't follow through, how are we to face our supporters and voters there?" he said.

Mustafa said there was a misconception among opposition supporters that PAS had to support any decision by DAP and PKR.

 

He said this misconception has led to the people believing that PAS had betrayed Pakatan.

 

"In reality, we (Pakatan) have agreed to accept differences of opinions," he said.

 

Mustafa reiterated that PAS would remain in Pakatan if there are no "incidents".

 

On a separate matter, Mustafa said certain party leaders expressing support for the Islamic State were ignorant of the nature of the organisation which has wreaked havoc throughout the Middle East.

 

He said PAS does not condone violence and members who had made public statements in support of the Islamic State had been reprimanded by party president Abdul Hadi Awang.