PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has pointed out that the Islamic party’s push for hudud laws is nothing new and therefore should not come as a surprise.

In an obvious swipe DAP, whose membership is predominantly Chinese, he noted how some parties are only interested in safeguarding the interests of a single race.

"It (the hudud agenda) has been going on for a long time. It is not surprising.

"PAS is consistent in upholding Islam and justice for all but others may be only looking out for one particular race only," he told reporters when met in Parliament.

DAP had recently severed ties with the PAS president but maintained a working relationship with the party.

Among others, DAP had accused Abdul Hadi of being " dishonest " for reneging on an earlier promise to hold detailed discussions with Pakatan's leadership council on amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code II Enactment 1993 before it was tabled.

In East Malaysia, Sarawak DAP withdrew from the opposition bloc, while Sabah DAP has called for the formation of "Pakatan Rakyat Baru" in Sabah, sans PAS.

Headed for splitsville?

Cutting off Abdul Hadi was seen as an attempt to send a signal to PAS members ahead of the party polls that a new president is needed, but observers noted that DAP’s gambit could have backfired .

The move had somewhat strengthened Abdul Hadi’s position, prompting even his rivals in PAS to express support for him.

Even the PAS president stressed that party members cannot be influenced by outsiders and remained confident of defending his post, which he has held for 13 years.

In 2001, DAP had withdrew from the then opposition alliance known as Barisan Alternatif after its leaders locked horns with PAS over the Islamic state issue.

Detractors had often described Pakatan as a fragile pact for political expedience given the opposing ideologies of DAP and PAS.