KUALA LUMPUR: A serious rift has developed in PAS after spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat told the party No. 2 Nasharuddin Mat Isa to quit and join Umno if he persisted in having unity talks with the Barisan Nasional (BN) party.
In an unprecedented outburst, the Kelantan mentri besar put the blame for the unity talks controversy squarely on the shoulders of the newly-elected party deputy president.
His remarks came just after PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali pledged the party’s commitment to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Mustafa said this morning that PAS would only have talks to form a unity government if the negotiations included its PR partners, in a statement designed to assuage the growing sense of betrayal being felt by DAP and PKR.
Umno leaders have in recent weeks aggressively pushed the idea of opening talks with PAS, and this has driven a rift between the PR partners and put the federal opposition alliance on the back-foot for the first time since last year’s general election.
Nik Aziz’s outburst today appears to suggest that PAS, long considered the most united and well-organised party in the PR alliance, is now severely split over the issue of talks with Umno.
“The issue of a unity government did not come from PAS but was an idea privately pushed. This matter was never discussed in any paper as part of PAS’s agenda or that of the opposition alliance.
“If it is true that Nasharuddin agrees with a unity government it is better that he joins Umno, resigns as the deputy and as Bachok MP,” Nik Aziz told reporters in Kota Baru after the Kelantan state executive council meeting today.
The spiritual leader’s comments are likely to send shockwaves throughout the party, and signal his refusal to back down from total commitment to PR.
While Nik Aziz remains a staunch conservative, he has given his backing to the so-called Erdogan faction in PAS which consists of professionals and more progressive leaders who support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s position as leader of the opposition and potential prime minister in a PR federal government.
But many of the more prominent Erdogan faction leaders like Husam Musa were defeated in the recent party elections in which conservatives, who stand behind PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, emerged victorious.
Nasharuddin had been at the forefront of secret talks last year between Umno and PAS soon after the general election.
But those talks did not result in any pact with the BN, and PAS decided instead to commit itself to PR.
But Nasharuddin and Hadi have grown weary of Anwar’s prominence and are concerned that PAS may be sidelined in a PR government led by the former deputy prime minister.
Umno has taken full advantage of the turn of events.
Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he could sense that the Islamist party was “sincere” in forming a unity government.
MI
17/06/09
In an unprecedented outburst, the Kelantan mentri besar put the blame for the unity talks controversy squarely on the shoulders of the newly-elected party deputy president.
His remarks came just after PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali pledged the party’s commitment to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Mustafa said this morning that PAS would only have talks to form a unity government if the negotiations included its PR partners, in a statement designed to assuage the growing sense of betrayal being felt by DAP and PKR.
Umno leaders have in recent weeks aggressively pushed the idea of opening talks with PAS, and this has driven a rift between the PR partners and put the federal opposition alliance on the back-foot for the first time since last year’s general election.
Nik Aziz’s outburst today appears to suggest that PAS, long considered the most united and well-organised party in the PR alliance, is now severely split over the issue of talks with Umno.
“The issue of a unity government did not come from PAS but was an idea privately pushed. This matter was never discussed in any paper as part of PAS’s agenda or that of the opposition alliance.
“If it is true that Nasharuddin agrees with a unity government it is better that he joins Umno, resigns as the deputy and as Bachok MP,” Nik Aziz told reporters in Kota Baru after the Kelantan state executive council meeting today.
The spiritual leader’s comments are likely to send shockwaves throughout the party, and signal his refusal to back down from total commitment to PR.
While Nik Aziz remains a staunch conservative, he has given his backing to the so-called Erdogan faction in PAS which consists of professionals and more progressive leaders who support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s position as leader of the opposition and potential prime minister in a PR federal government.
But many of the more prominent Erdogan faction leaders like Husam Musa were defeated in the recent party elections in which conservatives, who stand behind PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, emerged victorious.
Nasharuddin had been at the forefront of secret talks last year between Umno and PAS soon after the general election.
But those talks did not result in any pact with the BN, and PAS decided instead to commit itself to PR.
But Nasharuddin and Hadi have grown weary of Anwar’s prominence and are concerned that PAS may be sidelined in a PR government led by the former deputy prime minister.
Umno has taken full advantage of the turn of events.
Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he could sense that the Islamist party was “sincere” in forming a unity government.
MI
17/06/09
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