Nik Aziz insists on EGM
(The Malaysian Insider) – PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is firm about the party having an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which insiders see as a way of deposing president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for leaders warmer towards a full-fledged opposition pact.
Abdul Hadi and his conservative allies triumphed in the last party polls over the so-called “Erdogan” faction, which is more partial to Pakatan Rakyat.
Nik Aziz’s call for an EGM is seen as a last ditch all-out attempt to bring PAS closer to the pact rather than a more detached relationship with its allies PKR and DAP.
Today, Nik Aziz said he was not bothered that some states were against the idea and that what was important to him was to save the party.
“I will not change my mind on this,” the Kelantan mentri besar told reporters after opening a new mosque in Kampung Pasir Hor near here today.
Also present was former foreign minister Tan Tengku Ahmad Rithaudden, who bore the cost of building the RM500,000 mosque.
Nik Aziz wrote in his blog on Thursday, calling for the EGM so that the delegates could deliberate on the position of what he called “problematic leaders” in the party, referring to those who attempted to forge a unity government with the Barisan Nasional.
His protege Datuk Husam Musa lost his bid to take the deputy presidency from incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who with senior leader Datuk Mustafa Ali, is seen as the conservative spine in PAS.
Both Abdul Hadi and Mustafa were part of the “Young Turks” who took over the party after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, turning it back onto an Islamist path that former president Datuk Asri Muda had turned away from.
