(Nov 17): PAS is the one who declared war on DAP by saying it would run against the latter in all seats in the next general election, secretary-general Anthony Loke said today, after PKR said DAP was being hostile to the Islamist party.

Loke said PAS had also made baseless accusations against DAP and taken a confrontational attitude towards the party, which was why the two parties were now not amicable towards each other.

"It has to be reminded that it was not DAP that was confrontational with PAS but its top leaders, especially the president, who declared war against DAP," he said in a statement.

"The baseless allegations from PAS towards DAP can also be seen as wild accusations by the PAS president who claimed DAP was trying to restore local council elections to make gambling and alcohol halal to Muslims."

He said all parties in the Pakatan Harapan coalition should realise that PAS's top leadership had openly expressed interest in cooperating with Barisan Nasional, headed by Umno.

"The latest evidence is the fact that PAS decided not to vote against Budget 2016 in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday," he said.

The Islamist party had earlier decided it would abstain from voting against the budget, as announced by its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

But three of its lawmakers – Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Kubang Kerian MP Ahmad Baihaki Atiqulah and Pasir Puteh MP Dr Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad – had joined the rest of the opposition to vote against the budget at the policy stage.

"We respect the decision of the three MPs to continue the fight against Umno and Barisan Nasional but their courage does not represent PAS's official stand, which is seen as more BN-friendly at this time."

The Seremban MP added that Pakatan Harapan must now strengthen their election machinery at every level and prepare to face a new scenario, one without PAS.

"Although DAP is not against any effort by anyone to achieve one-on-one fights in the next GE, Pakatan Harapan leaders have to realise and be realistic that PAS leaders will not compromise with Amanah and DAP.

"We are likely to meet Barisan Nasional and PAS in most of the seats that Pakatan Harapan is contesting," he said.

Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said it was wrong of DAP to equate one vote for PAS with a vote for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

The Pandan MP also expressed hope that DAP would be less confrontational with PAS, their former ally in Pakatan Rakyat.

"I stick to a different stance than that of the DAP top leadership, which is that there is nothing to gain if we remain confrontational with PAS.

"This is because our final objective is to ensure one-on-one fights (in the next general election), and this can only be done if they (PAS and DAP) are involved too." – The Malaysian Insider