DAP leaders today denied there was any internal opposition to chairperson Lim Kit Siang's proposal to form a new 'secular front' with Keadilan and PRM.

Organising-secretary Tan Kok Wai said, "Even, there is [any opposition], it's a negligible number."

Tan was referring to a malaysiakini analysis yesterday which said several DAP party members are questioning the motive behind such a call, deeming it an attempt to re-enter the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition via the back door.

DAP quit the BA in September after it could not resolve the Islamic state issue with coalition member PAS.

Some party members suspect that the latest proposal by Lim could be to test the waters for another form of co-operation with PAS, despite intense opposition within DAP. In 1990, DAP had a 'secular' pact with Semangat 46 even though the now defunct party was part of a coalition with PAS then.

Tan refuted the comment that the proposal will unravel the factionalism within the 35-year-old party, and insisted that "it (factionalism) does not exist at all."

"We're all delighted with the proposal," he said, adding that the new opposition front, if established, will be a strong force that will prevent Malaysia from becoming an Islamic state.

The MP for Cheras stressed that this was crucial as Umno and PAS are currently competing with each other to speed up the realisation of an Islamic state in Malaysia.

'Timing not right'

DAP international-secretary Teresa Kok shares Tan's sentiment. She said the party is very concerned with this development.

The new opposition front will indirectly push the other opposition parties, especially Keadilan and PRM, to declare their stand on the Islamic state concept, she said.

Kok, who is MP for Seputeh, added that the idea of a secular front minus PAS was not something new but had already appeared in the writings of some newspapers.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking DAP source told malaysiakini that while the idea of a secular front was acceptable within the party, it may not be welcome by other opposition parties.

"The timing is not right," the source said, adding that the proposal was made without considering the feelings of the BA component parties and can be seen as an unfriendly move.