Boycotting the next general election will be the last resort for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), said its president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today.

According to her, the Youth wing's threat to boycott the 2008 polls due to election regularities is not feasible for now.

"The point is taken, but is not an option at the moment," she told a press conference at the sidelines of the PKR national congress in Kuala Lumpur.

"We take note of that (resolution) because we understand the frustration of entering into an election with no level playing field. It's therefore understandable that we get the suggestion to boycott (the next election)," she added.

Wan Azizah said the party does not want the public to have the impression that a boycott was launched because PKR, which was trounced in the 2004 elections, lacked confidence.

Her deputy Dr Syed Husin Ali, who was also present at the press conference, agreed that the boycott should be a last resort.

Street demonstrations

Meanwhile, vice-president Azmin Ali, in his winding-up speech earlier, told delegates that the leadership did not reject the proposal completely.

At this point, a delegate shouted 'street'(as in street demonstrations), prompting Azmin to ask the 1,000-odd delegates if they really wanted to take to the streets to reform the country and about 80 percent of those present raised their hands.

"But some of you still do not agree to go down to the streets," said the vice-president.

Asked to comment on the show of hands at the press conference later, Wan Azizah described it as an act of frustration.

In another development, Azmin said PKR, PAS and DAP held a meeting recently to discuss electoral reform, their preparedness in facing the next elections and the problems they face.

Following this, the parties held a meeting with the Election Commission to discuss ways to ensure that the next polls are fair and clean.

DAP had once been a member of Barisan Alternatif, the opposition front comprising PKR and PAS. However, the Chinese-dominated party left after crossing swords with PAS over its Islamic state goal.