The renewed push by PAS to implement hudud led its secular ally DAP to censure PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. He was accused of betraying Pakatan Rakyat and ties were severed.

The move, analysts believe, was essentially a gambit aimed at signaling to PAS' grassroots that DAP was still committed to Pakatan, but Abdul Hadi's antics pose a stumbling block.

"DAP doesn't want to alienate progressives in the party, but at the same time they want to convey the message that the problem (in Pakatan now) is centered on Abdul Hadi," said Ibrahim Suffian ( left ), who heads independent pollsters Merdeka Centre.

The problem with this plan, said analysts, was that Abdul Hadi - whose tenure as PAS president has been unchallenged for 13 years - remains hugely popular in PAS and is a spiritual beacon.

Hadi is also seen as the architect of PAS' renewed fervour in seeing the implementation of hudud, a policy that remained dormant during the early days of Pakatan, between 2008 and 2013.

"So the grassroots' reaction will be complicated because the leadership is undergoing an election. A direct attack or singling out Abdul Hadi may give rise to sympathy for him," said Ibrahim.

Similarly, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who heads Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), believes that DAP's decision to shun Abdul Hadi would be seen as interference in the internal affairs of PAS.

"They can't say that they can work with PAS and not its choice of president. The president of their choosing is the right of the members.

"Even those who are not in favour of Abdul Hadi might think that DAP is going a bit too far," he told Malaysiakini .

Building a case against Hadi

Yesterday, DAP announced that it would slash ties with Abdul Hadi over three major issues:

1) Abdul Hadi's submission of a private member's bill to Parliament without Pakatan’s consensus, 2) Going against Pakatan's collective decision to nominate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor menteri besar, and 3) Reneging on a promise not to amend the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code II Enactment 1993 until it was discussed in future Pakatan leadership council meetings.

Previously, DAP also made an issue of Abdul Hadi failing to attend Pakatan leadership council meetings.

Wan Saiful ( right ) said it was understandable that DAP felt slighted by Abdul Hadi, because the latter does not appear to respect the council.

"DAP believes that Abdul Hadi says one thing and does another. He may say he is committed (to Pakatan), but his actions are a joke.

"If you look at Abdul Hadi's behaviour lately, he is not just disrespecting the coalition, but he is also disrespecting his own committee members," he added.

Although DAP may have legitimate grouses against Abdul Hadi, Wan Saiful said the party failed to build a convincing case against him and "moved into second gear" too hastily.

However, he believed that DAP still has an opportunity to remedy the situation by providing further evidence of why Abdul Hadi is not trustworthy, such as exposing the minutes of a Pakatan leadership meeting which showed that he rescinded on an earlier agreement.

How will PAS react?

Given that there would be a PAS leadership election soon, where Abdul Hadi is expected to be challenged for the first time in 13 years, the party’s reaction towards DAP’s stand is expected to be complicated.

Ibrahim believes that PAS members, despite being adamant about hudud, understand the need for the party to remain in Pakatan, thereby complicating the response from party leaders.

"The conservatives will push the line that hudud is non-negotiable. I think the party delegates are quite mature. How things pan out rests on how the messaging is articulated.

"In my view, the membership cannot accept scrapping hudud, but can be persuaded that society needs to be prepared (for its implementation).

"In order to prepare, they can be persuaded that the party needs to win in a coalition with others," he added.

Thus far, DAP’s strategy has prompted PAS leaders, including Abdul Hadi’s opponents, to defend his leadership.

However, the moderate leaders in PAS have urged DAP to reconsider their decision and return to the negotiation table.