One of the points in the agreement inked between Pakatan Harapan and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is that talks will be held with other opposition parties to ensure straight fights with BN in the next general election.

This raised eyebrows since DAP and PAS have been at loggerheads.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said the party would not prevent its allies from holding seat negotiations with PAS.

However, he stressed this does not mean DAP would cease criticising PAS in order to facilitate the talks.

"We agreed that other Harapan parties like PKR and Bersatu can discuss with PAS to avoid three-cornered fights. They can go ahead with the talks, we will not participate.

"They will report to the Harapan council later," he told Malaysiakini.

Responding to a question on whether DAP would cease attacking PAS, he said the agreement does not mean daggers would remain in their sheaths.

"There is no such condition (of not criticising PAS). You could not hold yourself back by not commenting on certain issues.

"But we won't start the fire, we will evaluate the situation and issues," he explained.

For example, Loke said DAP did not respond to PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah's statement that the Islamic party may contest in DAP seats in the upcoming general election.

Sharing with Amanah

The Seremban MP also hoped Harapan and Bersatu would conclude seat negotiations before next February.

"I hope it will be (done by) early next year, say February after Chinese New Year...There must be a deadline," he said.

On whether DAP would make way for Amanah in some constituencies, Loke said the issue does not arise for now.

"We haven't talked about this. For seats we won, it is non-negotiable.

"We will also contest in the parliamentary seats we lost such as Cameron Highlands, Bentong, Tanjung Piai, Labis and Alor Gajah," he added.

On Tuesday, Harapan and Bersatu agreed to form an electoral pact to ensure one-on-one fights against BN in the upcoming general election.

A day before the agreement was signed, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin offered to help mend ties between PAS, DAP and Amanah.

However, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man shot down the proposal.