PAS: It’s unity, not for power

by Husna Yusop, The Sun

The proposed PAS-Umno unity talks is not about power-sharing or the party joining Umno or Barisan Nasional (BN), says PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa.

“It is about PAS, being a major political organisation, wanting to offer its views in dealing with the many current issues for the benefit of the nation and people.

“We could contribute in trying to minimise the impact (of the issues) on the nation. That is the main intention. I reiterate, it is not the issue of PAS joining Umno or BN. That is a non-issue. As for now, the focus is more on discussions and talks.

“Like what the president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) has said, we are open to discussions with anyone, even with MIC or PPP, not just with Umno,” he said when asked to clarify whether the unity talks would eventually mean sharing of power.

Speaking to reporters on the last day of PAS’s 55th delegates conference today, Nasharudin said PAS would explain the issue to other component parties in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition in the next presidential council meeting.

“When it is explained by the (PAS) president, they will understand,” he said when it was pointed out that DAP and PKR seemed to be in the dark about the unity talks issue.

In his adjournment speech, Abdul Hadi said the party should not shut the door to discussions with any quarter, including Umno, as it is against Allah’s command.

He said although PAS did want to be a passenger on the Barisan Nasional “ship” or that of others, it needed to have understanding with other parties on various issues.

“It is incumbent upon us to save others from ‘drowning’ in their own ignorance or helplessness when faced with a crisis,” he said.

Abdul Hadi said PAS leaders and members needed to know the kind of enemies they faced.

“There are two types of enemies — real enemy and the enemy that is created or produced. Let us not waste time on the created enemy until we forget the real enemy. There are also those who make us their enemies because they don’t understand us.”

Hence, he said, PAS must meet with all quarters, as sending out pamphlets on the party’s struggle did not suffice.

In the party’s deliberations, many delegates voiced their concern about the issue, saying they were against any cooperation with Umno, the party’s long-time No. 1 political foe.

Asked his response to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement that discussions between Umno and PAS can be continued following his (Nasharudin’s) re-election, he said: “In PAS, we don’t discuss based on individuals, but we leave it to the party.”

To Kelantan Umno leader Datuk Che Alwi Nik Mat’s call for mentri besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat to resign following the loss of several state leaders to get into the Central Working Committee, he said: “Umno need not interfere in PAS’s management and administration. It is not their business to be busybody.”

To a question, Nasharudin who defeated biggest challenger Datuk Husam Musa in a three-cornered fight with Mohamad Sabu, he said his relationship with Husam remains intact as he described it as a contest among family members.

Meanwhile, Perak PAS commissioner Ahmad Awang revealed that Umno had attempted to form a Malay-only coalition government in Perak immediately after the 12th general election. This, he claimed, was also supported by a PAS national leader who had contacted him a few days after the party, DAP and PKR leaders agreed to form the PR state government.

“The leader called me and asked whether PAS could reconsider its decision and instead, form a coalition government with Umno,” he said in his winding-up speech in the conference.

Approached by reporters later, the former party vice-president refused to name the national leader despite repeated requests.

Ahmad said the national leader had pointed out that PAS should seriously consider Umno’s offer as Umno is offering it the posts of mentri besar, state assembly speaker and executive committee members.

Ahmad also claimed Umno had used former Perak Mufti Datuk Harussani Zakaria as a go-between with former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He alleged Harussani had attempted to deceive him (Ahmad) by saying Nik Aziz and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had agreed to the cooperation between the party and Umno.

“But I know Nik Aziz well and he would never agree to something like this,” he said.

At the assembly, PAS called for the setting up of a royal commission to investigate the power grab in Perak which the party claimed was improper.

The assembly also approved a resolution calling on the federal government to scrap the teaching of maths and science in English.