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Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said today that he deeply regretted DAP's decision to pull out from the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition last Saturday.

"The DAP leaving the BA is very much regretted. Their involvement thus far in the coalition has been invaluable and I appreciate it very much," Anwar said in a message relayed through his lawyer Sankara N Nair.

"However, I'm optimistic that some level of cooperation will continue," Anwar added.

Anwar who is currently serving a 15-year jail sentence for sodomy and corrupt practises after he was sacked from his position by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

His wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, later became leader of the newly formed Keadilan, and forged an opposition coalition with DAP, PAS and PRM to contest in the 1999 general elections.

But the three-year coalition fell apart last week after no agreements emerged from the discussions between the Chinese-based DAP and Islamic-based PAS on the issue of Islamic state.

The two parties had earlier participated in a series of secret meetings to iron out their differences.

While PAS is adamant that it will form an Islamic state when voted into power, DAP has maintained that the idea is untenable in multi-cultural Malaysia.

No response

According to Sankara, he met Anwar yesterday in Sungai Buloh prison, where the former politician is being held, to "discuss legal matters".

He said that Anwar also thanked the DAP leaders for their support.

"Personally, the leaders of DAP, especially national chairman Lim Kit Siang, will always remain good friends. My family and I will forever be grateful for all the support given by Lim and DAP," Anwar was quoted by Sankara as saying.

Meanwhile, Sankara said that he had not receive any response from RTM over Anwar's demand for an apology for two TV programmes that allegedly defamed the former deputy prime minister.

In a letter of demand sent yesterday, Sankara named the director-general of RTM, Information Minister Khalil Yaacob and the government as being responsible for the broadcast, and gave the three parties a 48-hour ultimatum.

Anwar is threatening to proceed with a legal suit if they did not meet the demands.