Now PAS tells Anwar to spell out ‘National Consensus’

(MM) – Signs of further PAS discontent with PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim surfaced today, when a member the Islamist party’s central working committee told the opposition leader to detail the peace plan he was dangling to rivals Barisan Nasional (BN).

Pasir Mas MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of the party’s spiritual advisor, also said the opposition leader must do so before the Kajang by-election on March 23, to prevent his overtures from being misconstrued.

“Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders, proponents and supporters need to understand and examine what is actually meant with a ‘National Consensus’. I believe the sooner it is put up in public view, the more it can be better developed,” the first-term lawmaker said in a statement today.

Saying that there has been too much politicking and deceit between BN and PR, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik said any attempts at a bilateral co-operation to cool rising religious temperatures must be sincere and genuine, rather than another political ploy that ends up frustrating the public.

Late last month, Anwar called for a so-called “National Consensus” between the ruling BN and opposition PR coalitions to solve the “Allah” dispute he argued is derailing Malaysia from its economic goals.

In response, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he would raise Anwar’s proposal with the Cabinet, but was quick to rule out the possibility of a unity government that was the long-rumoured goal of such talks.

The PAS leader’s remarks today is further sign of the dissatisfaction within the Islamist party over the seemingly unilateral decisions made by Anwar and his PKR on issues that affect the PR pact as a whole.

The party’s Youth wing and Selangor chapter have already warned that they will intervene in the event Anwar attempts to take over from Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as mentri besar, which is believed to be the goal of the unforced by-election in Kajang that was triggered by the sudden resignation of PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh last week.

PKR had dubbed the scheme the “Kajang Move” ostensibly to pre-empt social and economic turmoil that the party claims was headed Selangor’s way, although it has been thrifty with the details of its full strategy.

The Election Commission today announced that nomination for the Kajang poll will be on March 11, with voting to take place 12 days later.