PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali will meet Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today over unity talks with Umno leaders organised recently by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Malaysian Insider understands the meeting has been called to avoid further embarrassment to the party following reports of a secret meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Christmas Eve at Istana Terengganu here.
It is learnt that Hadi and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa had also attended the unity talks hosted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Both are seen as the leading lights in the pro-Umno faction within the Islamist party.
“They will address the controversy surrounding the unity talk before Tuan Guru Nik Aziz officially explains the issue on behalf of the party,” said a PAS insider familiar with the issue.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Nik Aziz had attended a private Christmas Eve dinner, hosted by the King, with the prime minister and his deputy at Istana Terengganu.
The dinner was seen as another attempt to revive the talks on political co-operation with Umno in the name of Malay/Muslim unity.
The Kelantan mentri besar confirmed the meeting with Najib, but refused to disclose what transpired at the dinner.
But The Malaysian Insider understands that the Christmas Eve meeting was initiated by former Prime Minister Abdullah who, in the aftermath of Election 2008, attempted to form a unity government with PAS leaders.
Sources familiar with the latest move to bring PAS into the Barisan Nasional (BN) government revealed that both Hadi and Nasharuddin would be given a prominent role in Putrajaya if the party decides to abandon Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but Nik Aziz continues to be the major obstacle in bringing PAS closer to the ruling coalition.
The majority of PAS central committee members, however, were kept in the dark about the meeting, with some describing it as a disaster for the party as it took place less than a week after PR’s second convention.
“I have heard about it, but nobody has offered any official explanation. I believe the move is crazy as general election is just around the corner. It will be difficult for us to do damage control,” said a PAS central committee member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another senior PAS leader described the move to meet with Umno leaders as a violation of the party’s resolution to remain in PR.
“The last three muktamars have decided that the party should remain in Pakatan and to work towards taking over Umno’s role,” said the member of the party’s political bureau.
“The meeting was an act of indiscipline and betrayal,” he added.
Meanwhile, former secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jafar said PAS leaders now owe an explanation to its members and PR parties.
“Like Nik Aziz said, there were discussions. Members want to know what was discussed, as the meeting was between Umno leaders, more than one of them, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was also said to be present,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
“During the Pakatan Rakyat convention, all leaders expressed their desire to work together in strengthening Pakatan, but suddenly this issue surfaced. If two days ago it was just rumours, but today Nik Aziz has confirmed it,” said Kamaruddin.
“With the latest development, Pakatan members also deserve an explanation,” he added.
The question of political co-operation with Umno became a major campaign issue in the 2009 PAS election after it was revealed that party leaders, including Nasharuddin and Selangor chief Datuk Hasan Ali, met with Abdullah and former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo after Election 2008 to explore the possibility of forming a unity government.
Leaders aligned to Nik Aziz then accused Nasharuddin of conspiring to take PAS out of PR, but the deputy president successfully defended his post in a three-cornered fight with Mohamad Sabu and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa.PAS holds 23 parliamentary seats within the PR coalition and controls two states, Kelantan and Kedah.
The other two PR-ruled states are Penang and Selangor.
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