Mustafa: Pakatan members must be included in talks

(NST) KUALA LUMPUR: Pas, which started the fire burning on unity talks with Umno, has imposed a new condition in the plan — it now wants DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat included.

Pas secretary-general Da-tuk Mustafa Ali said yesterday the party was not interested in pursuing the matter if the new condition was not accepted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"We want to know if Najib is willing to include our partners, PKR and DAP, in the talks. We will only proceed with the discussion if Najib agrees to this.

"DAP and PKR must be included as they are our friends in Pakatan Rakyat and we cannot betray them," said Mustafa at the party headquarters.

Mustafa's reaction was in response to a statement by Najib on Tuesday that he believed Pas was sincere in wanting to form a unity government with Umno. Najib said Umno would not reject any cooperation that could bring benefit to the country.

The talks on the unity government resurfaced when Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, during the recent Pas muktamar, reopened the door for it after withdrawing the suggestion a few months earlier.

Hadi said the revived proposal had been discussed with PKR and DAP, who did not object to it. However, leaders of both parties rejected Hadi's statement.

Hadi's proposal also met with strong opposition from Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who said cooperation between Pas and BN had been tried before but had failed.

Mustafa said that the idea of forming the unity government started after last year's March general election. "We were invited for a discussion by then prime minister (Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to discuss the matter."

Mustafa said Pas was represented by himself, deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad while Umno was represented by Abdullah and former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo.

"We were offered the posts of menteri besar in Selangor and Perak and some posts in the Federal Government.

"Pas rejected the offer as we were holding on to our struggle, based on Islam."

Asked whether Pas would hold a special muktamar to discuss the unity talks, Mustafa said: "The unity talks have not even taken place. This is a non-issue as we have yet to reach that stage."

Mustafa said as a founder of the opposition coalition, Pas had always remained with its partners despite the setback in the 2004 general election where PKR did not record a good performance. "We will not betray our friends in Pakatan Rakyat. We will remain with them."

However, Mustafa said Pas was willing to engage with Umno on certain issues.

He said for this purpose, there was no need for approval from PKR and DAP.

"The unity government must not be confused with our effort to engage other parties, including Umno, on specific issues. For example, on private religious schools, Umno discussed this with us because it involves Pas-controlled states like Kelantan."

Mustafa said Pas' track record showed that it was willing to talk to the Federal Government on national issues.

"For example, we had previously accepted the invitation by the government to take part in the National Economic Consultative Council during the time of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

"One of our vice-presidents (Salahuddin Ayub) is also a panel member of the special committee on corruption formed by the government."