PAS is using Keadilan's presence in the opposition Barisan Alternatif coalition to gain support from non-Malays in the Muslim party's bid to wrest more seats in the coming general elections, said Umno Pasir Mas division head Ibrahim Ali today.

He said PAS had employed this same modus operandi when it cooperated with the now defunct Semangat 46 in 1990, through the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) coalition to recapture Kelantan from BN.

He added that with Keadilan losing members in droves, the party may suffer a fate similar to that of other Umno and PAS splinter parties such as Semangat 46, Berjasa and Hamim,

"This is now happening in Indera Kayangan. Even the Keadilan state by-elections director has decided to leave the party to join Umno," he said.

Berjasa and Hamim, set up by PAS dissidents who left the party, joined Barisan Nasional but later withdrew. Semangat 46 was formed by Umno dissidents led by Razaleigh Hamzah in 1987 following a split in Umno after the contest for presidency.

Ibrahim is also chairman of the Kelantan People's Action Council, which has strongly opposed the attempt by the PAS-led state government to amend the state constitution to curb the powers of the sultan.

'Moment of truth'

"Keadilan enjoyed large support from the Malaysian public when the party was formed in 1998 simply because they were still confused about the allegations against former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, especially when PAS fully exploited the issue to boost it support in Terengganu and Kedah," said Ibrahim.

"Umno then failed to address the issue convincingly, which resulted in the party losing Terengganu and significant state and parliamentary seats in Kedah. But now the people have fully understood the issue and are ready to accept the fate that has befallen Anwar," he added.

The Umno division leader said now was the 'moment of truth' for Keadilan as to whether it will continue to garner support from the Malaysians or go the way of Semangat 46, Berjasa and Hamim.

Berjasa was formed in 1978 by former PAS leader Mohamed Nasir after emergency rule in Kelantan which lasted for three months, while Hamim was formed by former PAS president Asri Muda when he resigned from the party in 1982.

Both parties are now defunct.