Quit or stop unity talks

Spiritual leader rebukes deputy president publicly for Umno-friendly stance

NOT THE PARTY'S IDEA: 'The issue of forming a unity government is not something which came from PAS as a whole. It was a personal idea of someone.' — PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat

By Hazlin Hassan, The Straits Times

A deep split within the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) over unity talks with Umno burst dramatically into the open yesterday after the party's revered spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat publicly chastised deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa.

Datuk Nik Aziz told Mr Nasharudin to quit and join Umno if he continued to pursue such talks.

'The issue of forming a unity government is not something which came from PAS as a whole. It was a personal idea of someone. This matter was never discussed in PAS or within the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

'If it is true that Nasharudin supports the formation of a unity government, it is best that he joins Umno by quitting his PAS post and as an MP for Bachok,' Mr Nik Aziz was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. 'Don't cause problems in the party,' he added.

The veteran leader, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, is rarely given to such explosive outbursts. Observers said yesterday's ultimatum indicated that he had reached the end of his tether in the face of growing tensions within the party over the issue.

Mr Nik Aziz has been firmly against cooperation with Umno and had labelled pro-Umno PAS leaders as nothing but 'Umno puppets'.

Mr Nasharudin had led secret talks with Umno just after the March 2008 elections to negotiate a unity government.

But PAS rejected an Umno offer to jointly govern the states of Selangor and Perak, which fell to the opposition in the polls. The Islamist party chose to stick with the PR that also includes the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Since word of the secret talks leaked out, Mr Nasharudin has been cast as the mastermind, though he has said he had the blessings of party president Hadi Awang.

Cooperation with Umno was the key issue in party polls at the PAS assembly earlier this month during which Mr Nasharudin fended off a strong challenge for the deputy presidency from Datuk Husam Musa, a candidate opposed to the idea.