No place for PAS in new coalition pact

KUALA LUMPUR: After a series of clashes between PAS and its opposition partners, DAP confirmed that the Islamist party would be excluded from the speculated new opposition coalition, set to be formed soon.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said PAS' inability to cooperate and its violation of the common policy framework would only lead the new Pakatan into disarray.
He added that discussions had been underway among DAP, PKR and the newly-formed movement, Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB), on the formation of the new coalition.
"(The discussion) will exclude PAS, of course ... otherwise the (new) Pakatan will die," he said.
"The previous Pakatan Rakyat died because the PAS leadership had violated the common policy framework, was unable to work and keep its word as well as being untrustworthy," he told reporters at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception held at the Parliament car park today.
Lim said with the demise of Pakatan, a new opposition pact is needed which can fulfil the aspirations of the people in the next general election.
"Therefore, we have been having discussion about a new (opposition) vehicle, to be named Pakatan Baru, Pakatan 2.0 or Harapan Rakyat.
"It is in the midst of being formed," he said.
GHB, a splinter group from PAS led by its progressive members, is set to be formed into a new political party in mid-August.
On the possibility that DAP has been funding GHB, Lim said it should not be seen as an issue. "The question of DAP going around distributing funds does not arise," he said.
He also denied that the split between the pro-ulama and progressive factions in PAS was the work of DAP.
"DAP doesn't go around weakening other parties. If PAS is weakeaned, it was due to its leadership and has nothing to do with us," he said.
Meanwhile, former opposition chief, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said the proposed new coalition will include GHB and other non-gpvernmental organisations (NGOs).
GHB was launched last week by a group of progressive PAS leaders ousted in the fractious party elections in June, including former PAS deputy president, Mohamad Sabu, and former senior leaders Khalid Samad, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli and Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
"We are working towards a strengthened coalition which will work together with all progressive forces, including NGOs such as Bersih, Abim, Ikram and GHB," Anwar said in a statement released through his lawyers,