I thank Ronnie Liu for his letter ('Some facts for dummies', Aug 16) in response to Dr Kua Kia Soong's article. I think it is good that such a swift clarification came from the horse's mouth.

However, I'd like to pose a question. Ronnie states that the DAP wants to stress to every Barisan Alternatif member that PAS should not peddle its ambition of setting up an Islamic state as long as they are in BA.

Can I bring to your attention that PAS has not stated that it will not do so, and has still been carrying on about its agenda for an Islamic state? Is PAS getting kicked out of BA?

Are they being made aware of the 'political reality' of Malaysia? In my humble opinion, I don't think so. Allow me to enlighten Ronnie as to the real political reality of Malaysia.

The BA is made up of three main parties: DAP, Keadilan and PAS.

PAS controls the northern states of Kelantan and Terengganu and poses a major threat in the BN-controlled Kedah and Pahang. They have inroads elsewhere, too. DAP and Keadilan at this point in time have a smattering of seats here and there. The BN controls two-thirds of Parliament. BA, the other one-third.

PAS controls more than half of the seats in BA. In my analysis of this situation, PAS seems to be the backbone of the BA. And as much as Ronnie states that the DAP is saying that a vote for the BA is not a vote for PAS, I will continue to disagree.

Until PAS gives a strong binding commitment not to pursue its agenda of an Islamic state, I will not trust BA in its current position.

In the 1930s, the centre party of Germany aligned itself with the Nazi party, forming a coalition government. At the time the centre party was the dominant partner and the Nazi party the minor (but still very important) partner.

To cut a long story short, the Nazi party used this opportunity to strengthen itself further, backstabbed its partners by getting their leaders arrested and shot, and formed Nazi Germany.

I am not saying PAS would do anything that drastic, but it will definitely turn on the DAP and Keadilan once it is able to do so. Politics is a dirty business.

Finally, my question is: How does the DAP hope to prevent PAS from achieving its ambition in this current state?