Nik Aziz to push for united Muslim party at Pas muktamar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — After rejecting a muzakarah (dialogue) with Umno, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat surprised everyone over the weekend by asking Umno and Pas to dissolve and pave the way for a united Muslim party.

To prove his seriousness, the Pas spiritual leader will bring up the proposal at the Pas muktamar (annual meeting) in Ipoh next month.

"The muktamar will give me an opportunity to present my case," the Kelantan menteri besar told reporters in Kota Baru yesterday. Nik Aziz has been vehemently opposed to the idea of Pas leaders discussing political matters including cooperation with their Umno counterparts.

His counter proposal to the dialogue with Umno has put both parties on the defensive. Party leaders mostly from Umno have described the idea as unsuitable. Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said both parties should place priority on resolving their differences on Malay and Muslim unity.

Pas vice-president Mohamad Sabu called on his party leadership and members to stay calm and avoid making statements that could affect party unity. He believed that the priority for Pas was to strengthen its cooperation with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP within the framework of the opposition's Pakatan Rakyat.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who has doubted Pas's credibility, wanted Pakatan to consider whether the Islamist party should be allowed to continue its membership in the loose coalition.

Former PKR strongman Ezam Mohd Nor, who has rejoined Umno, said it was yet another proof that Pakatan would not survive long due to their ideological differences. He claimed that those parties were duped by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had his own personal agenda to become prime minister.

The Anwar factor has allegedly pushed certain Pas top leaders to have secret talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi immediately after the March 8 general election. The Islamist leaders feared that Islam and Malay unity could be eroded under Anwar's perceived liberal leadership.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang however insisted that Pas would remain committed to Pakatan despite the partners' different ideologies.

-TMI