PAS will stick it out with Pakatan, says Nik Aziz

By Yow Hong Chieh
January 14, 2012
Nik Aziz (left) says hello to a young man just outside the venue of the 3rd Pakatan Rakyat Convention in Kedah capital Alor Setar Jan 14 2012. — Picture by Jack Ooi
ALOR STAR, Jan 14 — PAS reaffirmed its commitment to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact today, just days after the Islamist party sacked outspoken maverick Datuk Hasan Ali from its ranks.

PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said there was no chance the party would consider joining Umno after being kicked out of Barisan Nasional (BN) in 1977 after helping the ruling coalition win in the general election three years prior.

“After the last general election, Umno again asked PAS to join it. I said, cis! I know you,” he said to raucous laughter and claps from the PR convention here.

“So we are with Pakatan Rakyat. Even though I’ve been approached by Umno leaders of all ranks... Once bitten, twice shy.”

The PAS central working committee sacked Hasan, a former vice president and Selangor liaison chief, as a party member on Sunday for breaching party discipline.

The Gombak Setia assemblyman was axed for urging opposition supporters to avoid the January 9 rally in support of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as his sodomy trial verdict was handed down.

Anwar was acquitted and discharged of the sodomy charge.

Nik Aziz added that his suspicions about Umno’s lack of morals were confirmed when BN took control of the Perak from PR after three state assemblymen left the opposition pact soon after Election 2008.

“When Perak was seized... I thought it was indeed the right decision not to be with Umno,” he said.

“The seizing of power in Perak is neither Islamic nor democratic. It was done for lust. Lust cannot be our God, only Allah.”

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