Newspaper advertisements accusing DAP of 'sleeping with the enemy' has irked the opposition party, which today called on the Election Commission (EC) to intervene.

Its national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu claimed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) advertisements - appearing in all major dailies since Sunday - propagated lies about his party.

He questioned the cost behind these advertisements and whether it had surpassed the limit stipulated by law.

"We understand that a full-page black and white advertisement will cost more than RM20,000. If colour, the cost will be double.

"Based on an average of five pages per every mainstream newspaper, we believe this will cost RM80 million to RM100 million for all the advertisements," he added in a press statement.

Ties with PAS

Liu also pointed out that the advertisements contained false information about his party still maintaining ties with its opposition counterpart PAS.

"In one of the advertisements, it was mentioned that DAP chairperson (Lim Kit Siang) had attended PAS' anniversary on Feb 27, 2001 (despite having cut its ties with the Muslim-based party). This is false...," he stressed.

According to Liu, the said photograph of Lim attending the PAS function was taken in February 2001 when DAP was still a member of the Barisan Alternatif alliance.

"DAP left the BArisan Alternatif on Sept 22, 2001."

Liu also took issue with the advertisements for stating that a vote for DAP was a vote for PAS.

"This is simply lies," he said, adding that the party does not have anything to do with PAS since it quit the opposition coalition three years ago.

DAP left the opposition front - which comprises PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) - after crossing swords with the Muslim-based party over its ambition to form an Islamic state should it come to power.

Unfair campaigning

Meanwhile, Liu also complained that a photograph of the DAP chairperson was used without his consent in one of the advertisements.

He said the party viewed the advertisements as personal attacks against Lim, adding that such attacks were not permitted during the campaigning period.

Liu, who is Selangor DAP chief and candidate for the PJ Utara parliamentary seat, pointed out that the advertisements constituted unfair campaigning by the ruling front.

He said opposition parties will not be able to place such advertisements in the media or erect huge billboards like BN.

"We urge the EC to take stern action against BN for the above matters according to the Election Act," he added.