Sabah DAP plans new Pakatan Rakyat, without PAS

Sabah DAP is to meet with Sabah PKR on Monday to discuss setting up a new Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact in the state, said Sabah DAP deputy chairman Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.

He said this followed the decision of Labuan PAS to give up cooperation with DAP over a dispute on the proposed implementation of the hudud law in Kelantan.

"Labuan PAS has decided not to cooperate any more with DAP. As such, the new PR will be without PAS (as a partner). Nevertheless, the pact will not reject cooperation with other interested local parties," he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House here today.

Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, who is Kota Kinabalu MP, said yesterday a new PR would be set up but who would make up its partners could not be announced as yet.

Sze Phin was reportedly quoted as saying: "The time will come, and we no longer need PAS."

Tien Fatt, who is Sandakan MP, said the opposition pact in Sabah and Sarawak had autonomy, and felt that the move was rational and had the blessings of the central DAP.

He said the hudud issue had to be resolved fast as he felt that it could undermine the harmony of the people in Sabah.

"We here are like brothers. There has been no issue up to now. But when this issue cropped up, it threatened to undermine our relationship," he said.

Last Tuesday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said DAP had lost confidence in PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and wanted to sever ties with him.

DAP alleged that Abdul Hadi had gone back on his word and filed a notice to table a Private Member's Bill in Parliament to pave the way for the implementation of the hudud law in Kelantan.

In Putrajaya, a Sarawak leader, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, said he had no problem with the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

"I'm fine with that (hudud in Kelantan)," said Nanta, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president and Kapit MP.

Nanta, who is also deputy rural and regional development minister, reiterated that the hudud law would not be enforced in Sarawak.

He was asked his personal opinion on hudud after he had attended the ministry's flood aid presentation and appreciation ceremony.

In Kuala Terengganu PAS said DAP's move to sever ties with Abdul Hadi was a ploy to interfere in PAS affairs and topple the PAS president.

Its commissioner, Satiful Bahri Mamat, said Lim's statement could be taken as a signal for DAP interference in PAS.

He said Lim's criticism of Abdul Hadi had portrayed the PAS president as an unethical individual.

This would only be to the detriment of DAP as it could lose the support of the Malays, he added.