(AFP) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that DAP's withdrawal from the Barisan Alternatif was expected as a marriage between incompatibles cannot last.

"I have been waiting for this for a long time because no marriage between incompatibles can last long.

"It must break ... the relationship has ended," he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

Mahathir said DAP and PAS were brought together only by "hatred" for the Barisan Nasional and to win some seats in the elections.

"There is nothing in common between them. To manifest their hatred and to win the votes, both DAP and PAS were prepared to sacrifice their principles.

"PAS in order to get Chinese support, was and is willing to pawn and violate its long-standing principles of not collaborating with non-Islamic parties and persons.

"DAP, likewise, sacrifices and transgresses its belief to embrace PAS," Mahathir added.

Yesterday the DAP announced its decision to pull out from the opposition alliance amid a rift over the controversial issue of an Islamic state.

"In view of the failure of DAP and PAS to resolve the Islamic state controversy, the (DAP) central executive committee resolves that it is no longer tenable for DAP to continue in the BA," DAP secretary general Kerk Kim Hock said in a statement.

"The DAP ceases to be a member of the BA."

Setting up an Islamic state is PAS' top priority if the opposition topples Barisan Nasional. The proposition does not sit well with the DAP.

Shock and regret

The alliance also groups Keadilan, headed by the wife of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, and PRM.

Opposition pact members have expressed shock and regret over DAP's withdrawal but said it would not break their determination to unseat Mahathir's ruling coalition.

PRM vice president Sivarasah Rasiah today described DAP's decision as a "step backwards for the opposition alliance but will not break our resolve to run the country."

In the 1999 elections the DAP won 10 seats out of about 40 parliamentary seats contested. But two veteran leaders, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, failed to be reelected.