DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has once again declined to comment on his recent spat with a top PAS leader over the issue of local government polls.

He was asked about PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali's remark that he was a "loose cannon" for saying the latter (Mustafa) was not honest in his views regarding local government elections.

"I am not going to reply to that," said Lim - who is also the Penang chief minister - after a press conference held in his office in Komtar about the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site special area plan.

On Saturday, Lim had called off a press conference when bombarded with questions from reporters over Mustafa's challenge to him to debate over the issue.

Mustafa had denied supporting the local polls and had taken Lim to task on Wednesday, for reportedly saying that he was for it.

DAP and PAS have been in loggerheads over the issue, following PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's ( left ) remark that the local government elections championed by DAP could trigger a repeat of the May 13 racial riots of 1969.

Hadi had explained that the local elections promoted by DAP could result in a widening of the economic gap between the haves and have-nots, which may lead to riots.

DAP was sore with Mustafa's remark, and the party's organising secretary, Anthony Loke, has accused Hadi of treating DAP as a political enemy.

Mustafa has never done this with political rival Umno, Loke noted.

The Penang government has attempted to implement local elections since Pakatan Rakyat seized the state from BN in 2008.

However, the Federal Court had ruled in August last year that  Penang did not have the powers to hold the elections.

Despite not supporting local polls, as claimed by Hadi and Mustafa, PAS members continued to accept appointments as local councillors in Penang.

There are two local councillors each for the Penang Island and Seberang Perai municipal councils.