Several DAP leaders will join Keadilan in their personal capacity for the Indera Kayangan by-election campaign despite their party's decision to withdraw support for the opposition in the event.

Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali told malaysiakini that a member of parliament, a state assembly representative and several senior leaders have pledged their support beginning nomination day Jan 10 as they were unhappy with the party's resolution.

"The DAP is split on whether to assist the opposition or not. They did not get an overwhelming response in their decision to withdraw support," said Azmin who is also directing the election campaign.

"Although we hope DAP will reconsider its decision, their decision to support us or not is not the end of the world," he said

The DAP central executive committee decided Dec 30 to withdraw support for the opposition in the Indera Kayangan by-election as it does not want to be seen supporting PAS, which had been championing for the Islamic state cause if it came to power.

The decision drew PAS to question DAP's real motive in withdrawing its support. Since then, PAS leaders have ribbed DAP of its 'intentions' to join Barisan Nasional.

Not miffed by support withdrawal

Keadilan Youth leader Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was quoted in a local English daily on Saturday as saying that other members of the opposition coalition were not slighted by DAP's withdrawal of support.

Saifuddin, who is also the Lunas state assembly representative, said DAP was still welcome should it decide to join the campaign later on but added that "it will not be the end of the world without DAP".

However, the party's secretary-general Sahri Bahri was quoted in a Chinese daily today as saying that the nine-day campaign period was too short and that he would formally write to invite the DAP to assist in the campaign.

In an immediate response to Sahri's invitation, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the party has not received any official letter from Keadilan on the matter.

Islamic state divide

Lim said although the party would like to support the opposition, it would have no role in the by-election if the basic issue during the campaign is a battle between "Taliban Malaysia" or an "United States and Northern Alliance Malaysia"

"As an opposition, DAP would like to assist in the Indera Kayangan by-election to highlight the cause of democracy and human rights, especially as the two years after the 1999 general elections have seen the scenario going from bad to worse," he added.

"However, all these issues would be lost in the Indera Kayangan by-election in the larger political contest between Umno and PAS, which has undergone a qualitative change of character after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington," he added.

Meanwhile, DAP publicity secretary Ronnie Liu said the election campaign in Perlis this time would be "dirty" as the Islamic state issue would be exploited to the fullest.

"The DAP's secular state stand would not be good either for the opposition or BN," said Liu.

"Of course, we want the opposition to win but we do not want our support to be misconstrued as support for the Islamic state. That's why we are staying away," he added.

The Indera Kayangan seat fell vacant following the death of its state assembly representative, BN's Khor Liang Tee, on Dec 19.