KOTA BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The proposal to set up the new Gerakan Harapan Baru (GHB) political movement by those ousted in the recent Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) elections is a grand design by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to split the Islamist party, its secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said.

The Kota Baru MP claimed that DAP knew they could not be the dominant party in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition alliance if PAS remained united.

Takiyuddin also accused DAP of providing funds to GHB.

"We are aware of subtle manoeuvres by DAP, but kept quiet about it all along," he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya gathering here on Thursday.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has been quoted as saying that PAS would not be part of the new alliance and has blamed PAS for the demise of Pakatan. He has also signalled at providing funds to GHB.

Takiyuddin added that the willingness of DAP to finance the new party was clear-cut proof of a confession by Lim that GHB was a move to split PAS.

Earlier this week, the DAP's ally in Pakatan, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), said it was willing to cooperate politically with the GHB, along with non-governmental organisations such as Bersih, Abim and Ikram, which the PKR said are committed to reform and change.

GHB was formed by PAS' progressive leaders who were ousted in the June party elections.

The group was led by former PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and former PAS central committee members such as Khalid Samad, Hatta Ramli and Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

GHB is expected to launch its own political party in mid-September.