SWELL-HEADED AFTER KELANTAN RALLY, HADI REJECTS DAP'S SEATS FORMULA

PETALING JAYA - Coming out of a mammoth gathering in Kota Baru where nearly 100,000 PAS members had come out in support, the party has outright rejected a proposed DAP "peace formula" to avoid three-corner fights in the 14th general election.

The peace formula is also to end divisive fights between PAS and its splinter Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang had proposed the formula whereby Amanah would contest in the West Coast constituencies while PAS would concentrate on winning the Malay heartland states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

"This is to avoid debilitating three-corner fights that would only benefit Umno," Lim had said last week.

But PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang rejected the idea. He said on Sunday that PAS would contest in more seats throughout the country.

"We are a national party and we contest nationwide … We had been contesting (in general elections) even before the DAP existed,'' he told reporters when rejecting the proposed peace formula.

"We are neither racists nor a state (level) party. We will go national."

Any three-corner fight would benefit Umno, as seen in 2013 when PAS, PKR and the DAP had contested in several seats, splitting the votes.

PAS treats Amanah as traitorous and has said it will contest in all six parliamentary seats now held by Amanah leaders because they were won on the PAS ticket.

The DAP, which strongly supports Amanah, is hoping both parties will come to an understanding and avoid bloodletting.

"We think Lim's formula is good and that PAS should give it some deep thought," said Amanah communication director Khalid Samad.

"We are inclusive and can work with anyone so long as their objectives are similar to ours," he said. - Sundaily