PAS leaders and members who seek shelter in a new party or organisation will "drown" , party president Abdul Hadi Awang warned today.

The warning was included in an open letter from the president to all PAS members.

"Those who have followed PAS' history will know the challenges and the disappearance of leaders, members and supporters with the party or organisation they used as shelter," Hadi said.

His warning comes after a group was formed, consisting of 18 ousted "progressive" PAS leaders.

The Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (PasMa) has also announced that it would form a political party aimed to replace PAS in Pakatan Rakyat.

'Stay with the existing congregation'

Meanwhile, Hadi in his open letter said every PAS member must stay with the existing congregation (PAS), which was formed under the principle of faith (aqidah).

Citing Quranic verses, Hadi also pointed out Muslims must be good to all humankind, according to its boundaries.

"The prophet formed various ties with the non-Muslims by way of tahaluf and ta'awun (cooperation), and forgiving each other's mistakes.

"When enmity occured threatening to destroy the aqidah, then all ties were cancelled.

"This shows how there was openness in terms of the approaches, but firmness in matters related to the aqidah," he said.

Hadi's latest remarks showed how the party was still firm in its plan to implement hudud in Kelantan.

PAS' insistence to implement hudud was one of the main reasons for the Islamist party's relationship with DAP turning sour.

The fate of the opposition coalition continues to be in a limbo, with the DAP insisting that Pakatan Rakyat is dead, while PAS insists it is still in Pakatan as it is still in cooperation with PKR.