DAP's decision to quit Barisan Alternatif must not be used as an excuse to justify the poor performance by opposition parties in the recently concluded Sarawak state elections, warned party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock today.

"It is not fair or right for anyone to criticise us just because the move to exit the coalition came about before the state elections," said Kerk.

"We (former BA allies) have been together for two years, they must respect our decision. We do not need to turn into overnight enemies by all these unjustified comments," he told malaysiakini.

Kerk was reacting to a statement by PRM deputy Youth chief Jonson Chong earlier today who criticised DAP for withdrawing from the opposition coalition at the eleventh hour.

"DAP must bear the bulk of the responsibility for the opposition's loss in Sarawak especially when it dropped a bombshell that it was exiting BA just before the elections," said Chong.

The PRM leader also criticised the Chinese-based DAP for its unwillingness to act in the common interest of the opposition parties or for the rakyat.

"In view of the current hysteria of war and deliberate propaganda against Islam (following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States), DAP should have been more circumspect in making the move," said Chong.

DAP pulled out of the coalition on Sept 22, five days before the Sarawak state elections, citing irreconcilable differences with former ally PAS over the Islamic state issue. Other members of the coalition are Keadilan and PRM.

Yesterday, Keadilan also lashed out at DAP for its shocking withdrawal from BA, and claimed that the move failed to bring about "anything positive" in last Thursday's state elections.

Strategic move

Some political observers considered DAP's exit as a 'strategic and opportunistic' move engineered to capitalise on Chinese votes by dissociating the party with the Muslim-based PAS.

However, this 'strategy' failed to work as the party lost two of its incumbent seats and only managed to win in one, out of the 13 predominantly Chinese constituencies where it contested.

Despite predictions of a strong showing, Keadilan and PAS also failed to win any seats in the 62-seat Sarawak elections.

Kerk maintained that DAP's decision to quit BA was never "timed" for the elections and claimed that PAS was the one who chose the date for the 'divorce'.

"The decision could have been delayed if the party had a choice," he added.

Kerk explained that even before the state elections, BA leaders believed that if DAP were to withdraw from the coalition, it would not make an impact in Sarawak.

Sarawak DAP left BA soon after the 1999 elections citing the Islamic state issue and lack of cooperation with Keadilan over seats allocation as reasons for their departure.

"If people did not vote for the opposition (in Sarawak), it is due to the opposition's weaknesses and failure," said Kerk.

Stop internal scuffle

Meanwhile, Sarawak DAP chief Richard Wong, when contacted by malaysiakini, stressed that the "internal scuffle" between opposition parties must stop.

"Instead, we should reminisce about our own losses and strategise ways to fight the Barisan Nasional," he said.

Wong, who lost by more than 800* votes in Bukit Assek, lambasted Chong for his "irresponsible remarks" and questioned PRM's role in Sarawak.

"What is PRM but an almost extinct party?" said Wong, adding that the only party who stood for the interest of the people was DAP.

Chong had also criticised DAP and PAS for their uncompromising stand on the Islamic state issue which he said led to the opposition's massive loss in the Sarawak elections.

Editor's note: Initial figure given corrected.