Nik Aziz is against any form of political co-operation with Umno.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — In another blow to the PAS leadership's insistence on resuming talks with Umno, the party's spiritual leader said engaging the Malay nationalist party should never be part of party's agenda.
In an interview with the party newsletter Harakah, published today, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat reiterated his stand against any form of political co-operation with Umno.
“Islam has always encouraged discussion. To place it as part of party's agenda creates the impression that Islam does not provide room for discussion,” said the PAS spiritual adviser.
During the recently-concluded muktamar, president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharudin Mat Isa declared their commitment to strengthening Pakatan Rakyat (PR) but vowed to continue discussion with Umno, in a sign that both leaders have yet to abandon plans to form a unity government with the ruling party.
“Islam has always allowed those who are against it to talk and discuss. It has always been there, so there is no need to make it part of our agenda. When we make it part of our agenda, it creates redundancy,” Nik Aziz added.
He also praised Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who is another strong critic of unity talks with Umno, for demonstrating his knowledge in Islamic history during the muktamar.
Nik Aziz said Khalid, an engineer by training, had shown there is no clear division between the religious scholars or ulama and the professionals in the party.
“Although I have never seen him in skullcap, turban or robe, but throughout his speech he used arguments commonly used by the ulama,” he added.
In the fiery speech, Khalid also criticised the muktamar secretariat for accepting sponsorship from Umno-linked corporation Puncak Niaga.
The Kelantan Mentri Besar also expressed his shock with the defeat of the state leaders in the party election.
“I am not only disappointed, but also saddened. I don't know what was the reason. We will study the matter and let the next muktamar decide,” he added.
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