Gerakan has reiterated its stand that the party will not object to PAS co-operating with Umno as long as the former discards its intention of setting up an Islamic state in the country.

Gerakan vice-president Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan said the party would object against to the Islamic state ideology as propagated by PAS.

Similarly, Dr Teng said Gerakan would not object if Barisan Nasional were to consider accepting DAP into its fold if DAP sincerely embarks on a non-racial and moderate approach to all issues.

Dr Teng, who is also Penang Gerakan chief, said Barisan Nasional was formed as a major coalition of political parties in 1974 aimed at pulling together political resources and reducing politicking for better development and the good of the country.

“The coalition has been working well for so many years with lesser politicking among the various political parties in the country. However, this cohesiveness seems to have been threatened lately as there has been too much politicking going on in the country, which is not beneficial to the people and the country,” he said in a statement.

Dr Teng said PAS’s dictum of wanting to set up a Welfare State in the country during the 2008 General Elections was seemingly acceptable by the people. However, PAS did not adhere to its promise when it showed its intention of wanting to set up an Islamic State in the whole country if it takes over the federal government. Thus, the people should reject this theocratic religious party and the coalition, Pakatan Rakyat.

On Sunday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said PAS should leave Pakatan Rakyat if it truly wanted to propagate Islam.

The Prime Minister said this was because PAS could not do anything it had set out to do without DAP, its partner in the coalition, opposing it.

“Whether PAS joins us (Barisan Nasional) or goes it alone is another issue,” Najib added.