PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Syura Council of Malaysia's Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) has decided to uphold the decision of its muktamar, or general assembly, to cut ties with the Democratic Action Party (DAP), after a month-long drama that has put Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) status as an opposition coalition in limbo.

Syura Council's secretary Datuk Dr Nik Zawawi Salleh said the decision was made as the party was disappointed with DAP's fervent "provocation" of PAS by breaching PR's cooperation spirit.

He also said DAP has constantly interfered in the struggles, policies and objectives of PAS

"Therefore the Syura Council decided to revoke tahaluf siyasi (political cooperation). But at the same time, we will maintain ties with PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat)," he said in a statement on Saturday.

He also said that PAS will continue its ties with any party through the same political cooperation concept.

"However, PAS will hold strongly to the Islamic policies in any political cooperation," he said.

Dr Nik Zawawi added that this decision would be handed to PAS' central committee to be executed.

During the PAS general assembly in Kuala Selangor in June, the party had approved a motion by the Ulama wing to sever ties with DAP, but to remain in the opposition coalition.

This prompted DAP's Lim Guan Eng to act swiftly, telling his PAS counterparts who held government posts in Penang administration to adhere to the decision by stepping down.

Appeared to be taken aback by such order, PAS insisted that the general assembly's decision was not final and it had to be deliberated by the Syura council.

Despite all that, DAP continued to declare that the PR had ceased to exist, whether or not the Syura Council had made its decision as the motion was already approved by the party's general assembly.

PKR had also appeared to agree with DAP, with its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail saying that PR no longer functions normally as a coalition.

The Selangor Pakatan government's status also came under question after DAP leaders said that the coalition was no more.

The state leaders are expected to hold another meeting after Hari Raya, as the last one they had was not able to reach any consensus.