SUBANG, Dec 14 — The DAP reminded its allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today that all three member parties must agree on “a coherent and consistent policy agenda” to convince fence sitters to vote against Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

This can only be achieved if three-party opposition pact comes to a definite stand on key issues like hudud and PR’s pick for prime minister, apart from presenting a united front, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.

“The partisan bases of each of the Pakatan Rakyat parties can only get us so far,” he said.

“Pakatan Rakyat would not be able to enter the next election not having agreed upon who would be the next Prime Minister nor on a clear and definite position that there will be no hudud laws,” said Lim.

He also said that “there can be no repeat” of the Selangor mentri besar crisis, which saw the pact’s parties in loggerheads over the choice of candidate for the post.

DAP has been steadfast in its plan to nominate PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to fill in the post of the prime minister should PR win Putrajaya in the next general election.

Speaking to the 938 delegates present at the convention today, Lim also condemned Putrajaya’s bid to imprison Anwar for sodomy, calling it a “desperate act” by the government.

“If Anwar is imprisoned, don’t worry, we will wait for his release,” assured Lim.

Unlike the DAP, however, PAS has not officially endorsed Anwar, insisting that the position can be filled by other equally qualified leaders in its party, namely party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Adding to the strain in PR ties, the Islamist party also dropped a bombshell in April when its insisted on pushing for amendments to the Federal Constitution to accommodate the implementation of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II, commonly known as hudud, passed by the state assembly in 1993.

DAP has repeatedly demanded that PAS shelve its plans in Kelantan, with its leaders even warning of an imminent break-up of the PR alliance should the Islamist party refuse to back down.

But Lim said today that DAP’s position on the matter does not make it anti-Malay or anti-Islam.

“We must convince Malays that DAP, as one of its governing parties in Pakatan, would never hurt the interests of ordinary Malays but instead, deliver a better life for all Malaysians, Malays included.

“There will be more ferocious attacks by Umno on DAP as more and more young Malays see DAP as a potential platform to champion their shared dreams for a better Malaysia,” said Lim.

He added that DAP is committed to the guarantee spelt out in the Federal Constitution, which includes the sovereignty of the Malay rulers, the position of Islam and Malays, as well as protecting the legitimate rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims.