DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said today that the decision of its 15 Terengganu state leaders - including its top three leaders - to resign from the party as a protest against a recent party's ruling came as no surprise.

The 15 leaders - which included the party's Terengganu state chief, deputy chief and secretary - announced their resignations en bloc today following the DAP central executive committee's (CEC) directive last week to 17 party members who hold official posts in the PAS-led states of Kelantan and Terengganu to relinquish them by next Wednesday.

According to the CEC, the appointments in the two state governments had become untenable with the Islamic state objective propagated by PAS.

Describing the development as "regrettable", Kerk however said he has anticipated the mass resignation.

"This decision came as no surprise to me. Our CEC representatives (Fong Kui Lin and Tan Kok Wai) had held prior discussions with them and they had conveyed their intention to stay in the state government posts," he said when contacted this evening.

He said he has not received formal resignation letters from the 15 but was told of their decision two days ago by the CEC representatives.

Kerk, who is also Kota Melaka MP, however said that he did not expect two others, one from Kelantan and another from Terengganu, to quit the party.

He said the 17 were offered three options - namely to adhere to the party's decision, quit the party or face disciplinary action.

"It is impossible for them to continue holding the posts in their individual capacity. I believe they were also caught in a dilemma and have to tender their resignation.

"They believe they could still play a role in the state governments, but where do we draw the line? If the BN offers us (similar posts), should we accept them?" he asked.

Following the resignations, Kerk said the party posts of the 15 will remain vacant for now but a reshuffle will be made soon.

'For the sake of non-Muslims'

According to a Bernama report today, the 15 members comprised five who hold the positions of municipal and district councillors while 12 others are members of People's Consultative Committee.

Terengganu DAP secretary Ng Chai Hing was quoted as saying they were appointed posts in the interests of non-Muslims in the state and therefore they should continue serving in the posts for the benefit of non-Muslims.

Ng, who is also PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's special assistant, said despite their resignations from DAP, they would not join other political parties for the time being.

He added that the group decided to continue cooperating with the PAS state government because PAS practises fair and transparent policies, and is concerned with the problems faced by non-Muslims.

Hadi, who is also quoted in the same report described the en bloc resignations as a positive development as it showed the Chinese in the state had accepted PAS ways in administering the state.

DAP, a former ally of PAS in the Barisan Alternatif, pulled out from the coalition two years ago after irreconcilable differences with PAS over the latter's Islamic state objective.

The Chinese-based party has virulently criticised PAS after the 'Islamic state' blueprint of the party was made public on Nov 12.