KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — PAS leaders appears uncertain over how to address the controversy surrounding Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s daughter and her stinging criticisms against party leaders.
While some have noted that she has a right to her views and objections, other have dismissed her complaints and are keeping a lid on the entire issue.
When contacted by The Malaysian Insider, PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar refused to comment on the matter and claimed he was clueless as to what was going on.
He even went so far as to say that he had no idea who Nik Amalina was, pleading ignorance to the fact that she was the daughter of the Kelantan Mentri Besar himself.
“I have not been informed of the issue..is there an issue? Who is she? Oh, she wrote something on a blog? I have no idea..I cannot comment because I don’t know what’s going on,” said Mahfuz.
Another PAS leader, who did not want to be named, dismissed Nik Amalina’s claims as being very counter-productive, and added that he would be the least excited to be involved in the matter.
On Wednesday, the daughter of the PAS spiritual leader blasted party leaders who have been criticising her husband, embattled PMBK Chief Operating Officer Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman, who has been told to resign from his post following allegations of graft.
PAS is divided by this issue with one faction, understood to be led by Datuk Husam Musa’s Erdogan faction, blasting Ariffahmi as a liability to the party, while their rivals are claiming such criticisms are targetted to undermine Nik Aziz’s position as Mentri Besar.
The youngest child of Nik Aziz had stated the leaders who had criticised her husband are trying their best to exploit the controversy for “cheap publicity.” She also demanded the resignation of a “certain Kelantan exco”, in an apparent reference to Husam.
However today she downplayed her initial outburst by urging PAS leaders not to interpret her remarks as an attack against party members critical of her husband and father.
She may have found herself some understanding in the form of Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who feels that closure is needed to prevent the hawks in Umno and Barisan National from exploiting the matter further.
“For a person like me who is in full support of freedom of expression, it would be improper for me to criticise her views and frustrations..maybe its good in a way that she does so, so that we know what are her opinions and views,” said Khalid.
The Shah Alam MP asserted that these matters could not be “simply swept under the carpet”, but at the same time they should be addressed with a heavy dosage of wisdom and understanding.
“I do not condone what she is doing. It has not been done in the wisest manner. She should extricate herself and look at the isssue on a policy-based, strategic level -like how the party would handle situations like this in the future.”
On a personal note, Khalid feels that the main problem is a policy one, on whether a relation of a mentri besar can be appointed as a CEO. The appointment must be done in the interest of merit, something that Ariffahmi apparently had fulfilled.
“The party should be given time to absorb the points raised, and at the same time not backtrack from the position of Tok Guru and Ariffahmi’s decision to step down.”
Nik Aziz’s son-in-law tendered his resignation after pressure from party leaders but had refused to step down immediately , saying that he will “honour” his contract that would allow him to stay as CEO of PBMK untill March 2010.
His decision sparked an uproar from leaders who have been trying hard to unseat him and has fuelled further fire between the warring PAS factions.
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