PAS vice-president Iskandar Abdul Samad has lashed out at BN leaders for brushing aside the Islamic party's demand for fresh elections to be held.

Responding to those who stated that such a demand must come from the people, he said this was proof BN did not understand the situation.

"They don't seem to realise that PAS too represents the rakyat. PAS leaders are the rakyat, PAS members are the rakyat and PAS representatives represent the rakyat.

"The rakyat's views are disregarded just like that. There is no more respect for the rakyat," he added.

Iskandar said the people have expressed their dissatisfaction over the country's current situation but BN leaders seem to turn a deaf ear to this.

"Therefore, the demand for Parliament to be dissolved for a general election is only apt. The country's image must be salvaged and the rakyat must be saved immediately," he said.

Although PAS stated that it would not participate in the Citizens' Declaration which was signed last Friday, its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the party wants Parliament to be dissolved to make way for a general election by returning the mandate to the rakyat to replace the federal government that has been "implicated in all kinds of scandals".

Malay daily Sinar Harian yesterday quoted BN MPs on the matter, with Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan saying the demand showed how PAS was "desperate".

"We don't dissolve Parliament because PAS asks for it. The rakyat are the ones who must ask for it," he was quoted as saying.

National Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar also said there was no need for Parliament to be dissolved while minister Shahidan Kassim advised all quarters to wait for the next election.