PAS syura council's decision to divorce DAP on Saturday was a non-event compared to two top party leaders allegedly defending Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement today, Lim said this has made the two leaders mainstream media darlings.

"The PAS syura council decision is a non-event as it has been completely overshadowed by the latest developments [...] with the two top PAS leaders emerging as the strongest defenders of Najib.

"Recently, the new top PAS leaders have become the 'darlings' of the Umno media, with the infamous Utusan Malaysia becoming spokesmen on their behalf," Lim ( photo ) said.

He cited Utusan 's editorial comment piece yesterday, which claimed PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang had cut ties with DAP due in part to a conspiracy to topple Najib, as an example.

Continue with Pakatan's goals

Although Lim did not name the other leader, but it is believed he was referring to PAS spiritual leader Haron Din, who has also been accused of defending Najib.

While he was not surprised by the syura council's decision , Lim said it would not have happened if the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat ( photo ) was still alive.

"There is no doubt however that Pakatan would not have died if former PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz had not passed away as he was the bulwark against the 'unity government' machinations of the Umno plotters and conspirators," he said.

The Gelang Patah MP said the people's hopes for Pakatan should not be abandoned, and pledged to work with other like-minded parties to continue Pakatan's goals in the next general elections.

Progressive PAS leaders, banded together under the New Hope (Harapan Baru) movement, are currently mulling the formation of a new more inclusive Islamist party to replace PAS in the opposition.