A Barisan Alternatif (BA) leader who urged a component party, DAP, to leave the opposition front if the party cannot persuade its grassroots members to accept BA today said that he made the statement based on his personal opinion.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) treasurer Koh Swee Yong told malaysiakini that as an executive council member of the party, he had the freedom to express his views when necessary.

Koh was speaking in response to DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock's query yesterday on whether he made the statement against the authority, consent and knowledge of the top PRM leadership in particular its president, Dr Syed Husin Ali.

Kerk said in a press release that Koh's statement was "most shocking coming from a leader of a component party of BA".

"I would like to ask Kerk in return whether DAP local and state leaders make statements and do they do it with the authority, consent and knowledge of the top DAP leadership?

"What about the decision by Sarawak DAP to pull out from BA early this month. Did they also get the authority, consent and knowledge of the top DAP leadership?" Koh said today.

Different plane

Koh told malaysiakini on Monday that if the DAP leadership is unable to withstand the pressure from its grassroots and decided to leave BA, the opposition coalition would accept their decision.

Meanwhile, Syed Husin, when contacted yesterday, said that there was an understanding in the party that its executive members were allowed to issue statements.