Talks between Barisan Alternatif (BA) leaders to resolve the controversy surrounding the coalition's stand on the Islamic state issue are at a deadlock with PAS refusing to agree to a joint statement.

The joint statement was aimed at assuring BA supporters that the coalition would not establish an Islamic state if it came to power and that it would stand firmly by the BA common manifesto agreed upon before the last general elections in 1999.

A BA source told malaysiakini today that while Keadilan, PRM and DAP were keen on the joint statement, PAS wanted to deliberate further on the issue thus resulting in BA not being able to make a firm stand.

"Although the leaders agreed on everything on how to resolve this issue, we could not get PAS to commit to the joint statement," said the source.

"This is a very important issue and if we cannot agree on this then the BA may just fall apart," the source added.

'Hard to predict'

Yesterday, BA component parties PAS and DAP failed to resolve their differences over the issue of the Islamic state during a four-hour meeting with BA's top leadership.

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock told malaysiakini that the Opposition front leaders had met to seek a way of resolving the controversy but having failed to do so, 'any eventual possibility of a consensus was hard to predict'.

The meeting was a BA regular monthly meeting attended by two representatives from each of the four component parties, which also include Keadilan and PRM.

The Islamic state conflict between PAS and DAP erupted when PAS deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also Terengganu Mentri Besar, insisted that PAS will not change its stand with regards to establishing an Islamic state if it comes to power.

Another BA source said the 'young Turks' in PAS are frustrated with the party's top leadership's refusal to compromise on the Islamic state issue.

"Everyone has worked so hard for the BA, we have come so far. To give up at this point is so sad," said the source.

"Although this may seem to be a non-issue as PAS cannot come to power on its own, we cannot ignore the matter altogether.

"This issue does not affect only PAS or DAP but the BA as a whole," the source added.

One item

PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali told malaysiakini today that yesterday's meeting had not reached a conclusion on the Islamic state issue.

"We are definitely working towards a formula acceptable to all parties," he added.

According to the veteran politician, the four BA partners had agreed on all items with regards to resolving the Islamic state issue with the exception of one.

Syed Husin declined to comment on what was the item that the coalition could not come to an agreement on.

However, he reiterated that the Opposition front was committed to its common manifesto.

Asked if he was confident that the coalition would come to a consensus, Syed Husin said, "I hope so."

Pas president Fadzil Noor could not be reached for comment.