DAP may have declared an end to Pakatan Rakyat but this does not mean the party has given up on coalition politics.

Instead, it appears DAP is actively trying to form a new coalition without PAS, which has in recent times repeatedly defied Pakatan's collective decisions, rendering the old coalition being unable to function.

University of Tasmania's Asia Institute director James Chin said Pakatan's demise was expected.

"DAP has been going around saying that Pakatan was dead even after the PAS muktamar last year.

"(PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang was signalling that under his leadership, Pakatan was already dead.

"It looks like DAP is now trying to promote a new Islamist party to take over PAS's slot in Pakatan," Chin ( photo ) told Malaysiakini .

DAP, after its central executive committee meeting last night, declared this morning that Pakatan was dead. It’s decision followed the motion passed by the PAS muktamar earlier this month that the party severs its ties with DAP.

Chin said DAP needed a group that can reach out to the rural Malay heartland and conservative Islamist, which PKR is unable to do so effectively.

Chin said one candidate is Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (Pasma), comprising of dissenting PAS members upset at Abdul Hadi's drift away from Pakatan.

"It may or may not be PasMa as there are other groups interested in taking this space in Pakatan," Chin said.

Start of a 'modern-conservative divide'

PasMa, a PAS-linked NGO, announced last week that it was planning to become a political party.

Chin said the end of Pakatan marks the beginning of a divide between modern and conservative Muslim leaders.

"It also tells us that the current PAS leadership believes in 'Ketuanan Melayu' (Malay supremacy) as well as 'Ketuanan Islam' (supremacy of Islam) and there is every reason to think they will come to some sort of agreement with Umno for the coming general election," he said.

Meanwhile, political scientist Andrew Aeria, who is attached with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), said DAP's move to unilaterally declare an end to Pakatan comes across as "arrogant".

"DAP only thinks that it is always right in the pact. The unilateral announcement is seen as a total disregard to its partners," Aeria told Malaysiakini .

He added that PAS should pursue its option with BN.

"The party should pursue it, since Hadi wants a unity government with Umno-BN. Hadi has always wanted to have a unity government.

"Even if the other BN component parties are against the joining of PAS, it will eventually be sorted out within the coalition," Aeria said.

NORMAN GOH is a member of the Malaysiakini Team.