The DAP is split over its central executive committee's decision not to campaign in the upcoming Indera Kayangan by-election.

This was despite the fact that committee members voted in support of the decision after a "serious discussion" in a meeting on Dec 30 last year.

Publicity secretary Ronnie Liu declined to comment on what transpired during the meeting but conceded that in spite of several committee members' unhappiness about the resolution, all had to toe the party line.

It is learnt that the decision did not have overwhelming support but dissenters caved-in due to the odds against the party with regard to the Islamic state controversy which will most likely be the main campaign issue there.

A member said remarks made in the press prior to the meeting was also not in accordance with proper procedure as the committee had yet to decide on the matter then.

Keadilan and Barisan Nasional will meet in a straight fight for the Indera Kayangan state assembly seat on Jan 19. Nomination is on Jan 10.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its BN representative Khor Liang Tee on Dec 19.

Asked why they decided to adopt a 'hands-off' position, DAP members who spoke to malaysiakini said the party did not want to be dragged into the Islamic state squabble between Umno and PAS.

'Shallow political reading'

DAP deputy secretary-general Chong Eng said the whole by-election would be a fierce competition between Umno and PAS as to whose 'Islamic state' model is more authentic.

"It would be Taliban Malaysia (PAS) versus US Northern Alliance (Umno)," said the Bukit Mertajam member of parliament.

"There are no common issues for DAP in Indera Kayangan as we want to talk about democracy, human rights, parliamentary reforms, mother-tongue education and a secular state," she added.

However, Chong warned against those who imply that the party was consorting with the ruling BN simply because DAP has disassociated itself from the opposition campaign.

"Those who say this have a very shallow political reading," she said.

PAS president Fadzil Noor and Youth leader Mahfuz Omar earlier questioned the real motive behind DAP's withdrawal of support for the opposition campaign.

Yesterday, DAP deputy chairperson Karpal Singh said DAP had no intentions of joining BN.

"It is the insistence of PAS to establish an Islamic state in the country that forms the fundamental basis for DAP to stay out of the campaign in the by-election," Karpal was quoted as saying in The Sun today.

"I would advise PAS leaders to rest assured that DAP will not join the BN come what may," he added.

No grassroots pressure

Meanwhile, DAP international secretary Teresa Kok said some members felt like joining the campaign but could not as they were bound by the CEC's decision.

Kok, who is MP for Seputeh, said the party decided to stay away when it realised the grassroots were not pressuring them to back the opposition's campaign.

"Unlike the Lunas by-election, the public are telling us not to go this time," Kok told malaysiakini.

In the Lunas state by-election in November 1999, DAP and Keadilan disagreed over who should be the opposition candidate. DAP had also threatened to leave the opposition front then.

However, DAP joined the opposition campaign trail in the eleventh hour when its chairperson Lim Kit Siang showed up in Lunas. Keadilan beat BN in a straight fight by a slim majority of 530 votes.