news analysis

The idea of a new secular front recently proposed by DAP chief Lim Kit Siang may yet open a can of worms and unravel the factionalism within the 35-year-old party.

Several party members are questioning the motive behind such a call, saying that DAP may be contemplating a sort of 'backdoor' entry into the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition, which it left barely three months ago.

In September, DAP quit the opposition front after bickering with coalition member PAS over the Islamic state issue.

Now, some party members suspect that the latest proposal by Lim could be an attempt to test the waters for another form of cooperation with PAS despite intense opposition within DAP. In 1990, DAP had a 'secular' pact with Semangat 46 while at the same time the now defunct party was in a coalition with PAS.

According to a party member who requested anonymity, DAP has seen divisions within the party on a number issues and this included last week's proposal for a new secular front.

"With life advisor Dr Chen (Man Hin) out of the scene, Karpal Singh (deputy chairman), Kerk Kim Hock (secretary-general), and M Kulasegaran (central committee member) are the main ones keeping the party honest in not having any misadventure with the BA before the next general elections," said the party member.

Personal invitation

Keeping the party out of the so-called misadventures with the BA became necessary when Lim's attendance at Keadilan's annual general assembly in Kemaman, Terengganu in November caught the DAP's central executive committee by surprise.

"The assumption was that no leader would be going," the party member told malaysiakini .

It is believed that Lim received a personal invitation from Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah, however, was not aware that some in her party had planned an embarrassment for Lim when Women's chief Fuziah Salleh call on DAP members to 'defect' to Keadilan, said the member.

Just as there are those in the DAP wanting to ensure the party stays out of the BA, there are also people in the BA who want the same, said the member.

"All the talk about cooperation is mere grandstanding because BA cannot afford to upset the non-Muslims while DAP cannot afford to upset the Malays," the member added.

However, members close to the leadership contended that Lim's call for a secular front was an honest appeal from the veteran politician.

London proposal

Lim made the proposal in a lecture to students in London recently. He said that the political aftermath of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States made it crucial for such a 'secular' pact.

Lim said the government will manipulate the evils of terrorism as a result of Islamic fundamentalism and associate it with the opposition to frighten voters come next general elections.

He added that the run-up to the next election will also see fierce competition between Umno and PAS on who can establish a true model of an Islamic state.

"Both choices are false," Lim had said and urged Keadilan, PRM and other progressive non-governmental organisations to consider a new front - minus the Muslim-based PAS - to take on the BN government in the coming general elections, which is due in 2004, but expected to be held earlier.

However, Lim's proposition was cold-shouldered by the two Malay-based parties which both said that "we do not simply abandon partners" (in reference to DAP leaving the coalition).

Return to the coalition

On Saturday, Wan Azizah asked DAP to return to the fold to strengthen the opposition.

Yesterday, Lim rejected the invitation, saying that the "thorny issue of an Islamic state which forced DAP to leave the coalition has yet to be resolved and the party will not compromise its opposition to the setting up of a theocratic state".

Lim said it was up to Keadilan to take a clear stand to oppose any form of an Islamic state and to join forces with the DAP to uphold and defend a secular Malaysia.

But Lim will also need to convince those from his party who are uneasy with the proposal, and who want to completely severe their ties with PAS.