PAS rejects division of seats formula proposed by DAP - Hadi

PAS has rejected the distribution of seats proposed by its former ally in the opposition pact, DAP, for the 14th General Election.

Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang stressed that PAS would be contesting throughout the country and in fact, would increase the number of seats to be contested by the party.

"We are a national party and we contest nationwide...we had been contesting (in the general elections) even before DAP existed. We are not a state party nor a racist party," he told reporters after attending the Fastaqim Gathering at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, here, last night.

Abdul Hadi was responding to the distribution of seats formula proposed by DAP to avoid three-cornered contests involving the opposition parties which will only benefit Barisan Nasional (BN).

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang was quoated as saying that one way was for PAS to contest in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) to contest in other states, subject to the agreement of the other opposition parties.

Asked on the threat posed by Amanah to PAS after many of the latter's members left to join the Islamist party's offshoot, Abdul Hadi who is also Marang MP, said he regarded it as a small matter.

"To us, Amanah is no big threat to PAS, which had faced much bigger threats than this, especially in 1978, which resulted in the people in Kelantan holding demonstrations which caused the downfall of the PAS state government.

"Nevertheless, we could continue with our struggle well, and we not only managed to increase our party membership and but to also improve the party's administration," he added.