There is no longer any future for Pakatan Rakyat, lamented Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

"I would hope they can continue, but it is going to be very difficult," he told some 300 academicians and NGO representatives at a forum on the 13th general election in Kuala Lumpur today.

He described PAS' ulama-dominated leadership as a group of people following president Abdul Hadi Awang, who "really does not care what others have to say, and believe they are going to heaven."

This can be seen in Hadi's attitude during the campaigning for the party election that concluded over the weekend, he said, which had been marred by slandering and the introduction of the " chai " culture in the party.

" Chai " describes a list of candidates who belong to the same ticket or have the same allegiances, meant to urge voters to support all of them for their respective posts.

The term originated from the Chinese term " cai dan (restaurant menu)" and its practice in Malaysia started from MCA party elections, but later spread to other parties.

Takes two to tango

Wan Saiful said that since joining PAS in 1992, the attitude shown at this year's party election is the worst that he has ever witnessed.

"He (Abdul Hadi) did not say anything at all (on Pakatan). And this the attitude of someone who is supposed to be friendly to DAP and PKR," he said.

Together with DAP's attacks on Abdul Hadi and a lack of desire for DAP and PAS to reconcile, he said he can't help but conclude that Pakatan's breakup is inevitable.

DAP and PAS had been at loggerheads since late last year over PAS' insistence on pushing its hudud agenda.

However, Wan Saiful said DAP has to share the blame for the current situation as well.

He said that DAP's relentless attacks on the PAS president had helped cement support for the ulama faction that he is aligned to.

"It takes two to tango […] DAP also played a role in catalysing the changes that happened in PAS," he said.