Malaysia's opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance is dead

KUALA LUMPUR: The Democratic Action Party (DAP) has announced that Malaysia's three-party opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance "ceases to exist", now that the Islamist Party PAS has cut ties with the DAP.

"The DAP Central Executive Committee accepts the PAS Muktamar's (General Assembly's) motion severing ties with DAP and effectively, that Pakatan Rakyat ceases to exist," said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement on Tuesday (Jun 16).

Pakatan Rakyat was formed in 2008 and has been Malaysia's strongest opposition force in decades, posing a serious threat to Barisan Nasional - the coalition that has ruled Malaysia since independence.

But tensions have flared between DAP and PAS under the leadership of Hadi Awang - particularly his push for the implementation of an Islamic penal code in the state of Kelantan.

Opposition leader and PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has yet to make a formal announcement on the future of Pakatan Rakyat.

PKR will meet at 8.30pm Tuesday to discuss DAP's statement.