The DAP central executive committee will meet next Tuesday to decide if the party should quit, stay or form another partnership with the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition.

National chairperson Lim Kit Siang told reporters today that CEC members will decide on the issue based on the mandate given to them to resolve its disagreements with coalition partner PAS on the implementation of an Islamic state.

Lim said he cannot predict what the committee, of which he is a member, will decide.

"I do not propose to anticipate the outcome of the CEC meeting on how to resolve the Islamic state controversy with PAS," he said.

However, sources within the party told malaysiakini that a majority of the committee members are in favour of quitting the opposition front.

The DAP veteran leader added that the party will not be holding any dialogues with PAS before next Tuesday's CEC meeting.

Lim was speaking after the launch of his book, BA & Islamic State , at the party's headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

The party's 13th congress last weekend empowered the new 26-member committee to resolve the issue with PAS immediately.

The committee has also been given the mandate to make the final decision without having to refer to the congress or delegates.

Among its members are deputy chairperson Karpal Singh, secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, publicity chief Ronnie Liu and Youth chief Teng Chang Khim.

PAS and DAP plunged into a crisis when the former reiterated publicly that it would set up an Islamic state if it came into power.

DAP has openly criticised PAS leaders for violating the 1999 elections manifesto entitled 'Towards a just Malaysia', which the former claimed made no mention about an Islamic state.

Bigger issue

Lim today said it was impossible for the four parties, including Keadilan and PRM, to return to the 1999 formula as PAS has violated the common manifesto.

He added that the Islamic state question was not a non-issue but will become a bigger issue in the next general elections.

"The question is whether there is any way for BA to send out a clear message that a vote for the BA is not a vote for an Islamic state, nor will it bring it any closer," said the veteran politician.

"Alternatively, can PAS convince Malaysians that an Islamic state concept is compatible with democracy, pluralism, human rights, cultural diversity, social tolerance, women's rights, development and modernity?" he added.

Public explanation

Recently, Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang was reported to have said that PAS accepted the reality that the country had to be governed based on the concept of a multi-racial society within a democratic framework.

He added that historically, Islamic governments had ruled when the Muslim community was a minority until the people eventually accepted the rule.

In response, Lim yesterday said Abdul Hadi's comments only "heighten rather than lessen" the concerns about PAS' Islamic state concept.

However, Lim said he welcomed PAS' decision to undertake a public explanation to address the controversy.

He conceded that BA leaders should not respond to or make "media outbursts" on the Islamic state controversy.

"We should be able to conduct an open, reasoned and sober debate on the political, legal and constitutional implications of PAS' concept of Islamic state," he said.

"This is an issue which does not just concern DAP, PAS or BA, but all the 22 million Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation," he added.