THE spiritual head of Malaysia's Islamic opposition group has demanded the ouster of key party leaders, intensifying a factional feud following attempts to form an alliance with the federal government.
The infighting in the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party comes amid a string of similar disputes in other political parties - both in the government and the opposition - that have undermined hopes of boosting political stability amid an economic downturn.
Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the Islamic Party should convene a special congress for members to elect a fresh set of top officials and get rid of what he called 'problematic leaders.'
'I strongly feel there must be changes in the key players who hold seats in the party's core,' Mr Nik Abdul Aziz said in a statement late Thursday.
It was not immediately clear if Mr Nik Abdul Aziz can gain sufficient support in his call for a leadership revamp because the party only just held its last elections in June. But his statements are certain to fuel concerns that the party is headed for a split.
He singled out several party officials whom he said had tried earlier this year to hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition to build cooperation as the talks never materialised after other party members voiced dismay that the idea was an effort by the National Front to destabilise the three-party opposition alliance that made stunning gains in March 2008 general elections. -- AP
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