A DAP leader has identified two key factors - new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Islamic state issue - which can negatively affect the opposition party's performance in the coming general election.

"When Dr Mahathir Mohamad took power in 1981, he exploited his 'honeymoon' period to build a good image for himself," said secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock in an exclusive interview with Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily today.

"We cannot deny that Abdullah will similarly use the 'new prime minister' effect to achieve his electoral strategy," Kerk added.

Abdullah took office as the country's fifth prime minister after Mahathir retired last October.

The DAP leader also argued that the Islamic state issue had affected the party's performance in the 1999 general election.

In the last polls, DAP - which was part of the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition - contested in 47 parliamentary seats and 88 state seats, but won only 10 and 11 seats respectively.

Still a problem

Kerk said while DAP may have left BA after its disagreement with PAS' insistence on the establishing an Islamic state, the issue remains a problem for the Chinese-dominated party.

"In the past, MCA and Gerakan told the Chinese community that they could not eat pork or practice ancestor worship in an Islamic state... But now, it is different. They tell the people that they have to choose between a moderate Islamic state or an extremist Islamic state," he said.

In 2002, former prime minister Mahathir had declared that Malaysia was an Islamic nation (Negara Islam) in a bid for Umno to win back the support of Malay voters which it lost to Muslim-based PAS.

Kerk stressed if the prevailing view among voters was to prevent the establishment of an extremist Islamic state, DAP would be adversely affected in the coming general election.

"This is the challenge which DAP will have to face,"said Kerk.

While the next general election is not due until the end of the year, many observers are expecting Abdullah to go to the polls as early as next month.