A member of the Barisan Alternatif coalition today criticised PAS and DAP for their uncompromising stand on the Islamic state issue which was said to have resulted in the opposition's massive loss in last Thursday's Sarawak state election

PRM deputy Youth chief Jonson Chong said that PAS should have done the right thing by not "entertaining DAP's self-serving actions".

"As seasoned politicians, PAS leaders should have known that the acrimonious debate that took place in public would have a detrimental effect on the opposition's chances in Sarawak," he told malaysiakini .

"As equal partners, neither PAS nor DAP should have gone ahead with bilateral talks with each other to solve an issue that obviously has direct impact on all component parties in BA," he added.

According to Chong, one of the most vital causes for the election defeat was due to the lack of cooperation among the opposition parties.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition swept the state to power by capturing 60 out of 62 seats. Meluan went an independent candidate and Kiduroung to DAP, while the other two BA partners - PAS and Keadilan - failed to win any seats.

No agreement

The Islamic state controversy was sparked by public statements that PAS would set up an Islamic state on coming to power

Several meetings between PAS and DAP could not patch up the differences between the two opposition parties.

In the wake of Sarawak's eighth state elections and terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Center and Washington's Pentagon where almost 7,000 lives are feared dead, the Chinese-based party announced that it was cutting all ties with BA.

Many considered this move "strategic and opportunistic" where the DAP had hoped to capitalise on Chinese votes during the elections.

However, the party lost two of its incumbent seats but managed to pick up one despite contesting in 13 pre-dominantly Chinese constituencies.

Deaf ear

Chong said PRM was also concerned that PAS leaders did not seem to be listening to the wishes of the people on the Islamic state issue.

"Although, it is legitimate for PAS to do so in states where the people have clearly given the mandate to them, it should not attempt to convert all Malaysians to its own way of thinking and ignore the reality of the people's varied worldviews," he said.

"In matters of faith and belief, especially those where there may be disputes between communities and where there is no discernible negative impact on others, we believe politicians and political parties should leave them to the people's individual conscience," he added.

He said PAS leaders should review their policies and their narrow interpretation of Islamic injunctions and move towards more progressive ideas and implement universal principles that are not threatening to any community's way of life.