updated version

A two-and-a-half-hour secret meeting between PAS and DAP this afternoon failed to resolve the parties' disagreements over the Islamic state issue, which has threatened to break up the opposition Barisan Alternatif (BA) front.

PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali said today's meeting, attended by 16 leaders from both the parties, will be followed by other meetings. However, he refused to say when the further meetings would be held.

Mustafa also said that the leaders from the two parties spoke extensively on the matter, and had verified the accuracy of the conflicting press statements made by both parties.

"Many things have been twisted and blown out of proportion by the press," he said, adding the leaders also discussed how best to deal with the media.

The conflict between the two BA partners erupted last month when PAS deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also Terengganu Mentri Besar, insisted that his party will not change its stand with regards to establishing an Islamic state in the country if it comes to power.

BA leaders have met several times and tried to seek a formula to resolve the Islamic state issue but the two coalition partners have until now have failed to reach an agreement over the matter.

DAP has threatened to leave the coalition if the issue is not resolved, while PAS is persuading its coalition partner to reconsider the move.

Quit threat not discussed

Both Mustafa and DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said the issue of DAP leaving the BA was not discussed during today's meeting.

"This meeting between our leaders was meant to discuss issues which are important to BA and how we are to face Barisan Nasional," said Mustafa.

"All I can say now is that we have not finished discussing the matter (the Islamic state) and will have more meetings later," he added.

Mustafa said the two parties did not set any time frame or ultimatums, adding the only stumbling block was the time constraint to discuss the matter further.

On whether PAS would stand firm on the Islamic state issue, Mustafa said the party stated its position on it explicitly to DAP.

"PAS made its stand very clear as a party and as a coalition partner, and DAP did the same, too," he said.

"We, however, respect each other's struggles," he added.

Among the leaders who represented PAS were its president Fadzil Noor, deputy president Abdul Hadi Awang, Mustafa and secretary-general Nasharudin Mat Isa while DAP had, among others, its chairman Lim Kit Siang, deputy chairman Karpal Singh and secretary general Kerk Kim Hock.

'Another matter'

Kerk said the meeting was 'in-depth, cordial and frank but the matter was not solved'.

Asked about its coming national congress where DAP is expected to make a decision on whether to stay with or leave BA, Kerk said that it was 'another matter'.

He, however, played down news reports that the party would be leaving the opposition coalition stressing that he had never mentioned there was grassroots' pressure for the party to quit BA.

"I have only said in the past that if the matter was not resolved, BA would no longer be tenable and I do not discount the possibility of DAP leaving BA," said Kerk.

"You cannot say we have postponed our decision to quit BA, or that we have made a decision (on the issue). The question simply does not arise," he added.

A number of DAP party leaders have, over the past week, spoke adamantly of the prospect of DAP pulling out of the coalition and that this would be announced at its upcoming general assembly.

DAP's annual congress will be held on Aug 18 and 19 in Kuala Lumpur.