PAS leaders greenlight talks with Umno, with a difference

Wednesday July 23, 2008 MYT 8:59:02 PM

By IAN McINTYRE

KOTA BARU: PAS has agreed that discussions with Umno could continue as and when necessary, following a high-powered meeting between Dewan Syura Ulama members and PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

The consensus was reached Wednesday after an almost three-hour meeting at the official Mentri Besar's residence here.

The others who attended were PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Dewan Ulama head Datuk Muhammad Daud Iraq, Perak PAS commissioner Ahmad Awang, Pengkalan Chepa MP Datuk Ab Halim Ab Rahman and deputy spiritual adviser Datuk Haron Din.

Nik Abdul Aziz, who had earlier expressed his objection when he heard about the meetings that had taken place, said he was open to the idea of muqabalah (face-to-face discussion) instead of muzakarah (dialogue).

“What I remarked earlier - that the (earlier) meetings with Umno was just on a personal basis - is all true. It was done to further the cause of Islam,” said a smiling Nik Abdul Aziz.

Abdul Hadi said that using the Arabic term muzakarah for the meetings was unsuitable.

The proper term should be muqabalah, which is a direct face-to-face discussion and nothing beyond that, Abdul Hadi said.

Asked whether this meant that PAS would continue its face-to-face discussions with Umno, Abdul Hadi replied, "only when necessary."

“We would need to see how Umno responds to our earlier discussion.”

He said the earlier meetings had centred on Malay unity, Islamic issues and the problems faced by the five states under the Pakatan Rakyat government.

Asked what had been Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s response to PAS' suggestions, Abdul Hadi replied: "That, you must ask him.”

He defended the decision to meet Umno, saying although Pakatan members may have different ideologies that could act as obstacles, PAS was part of the alliance and shared the same stand on all socio-economic issues concerning the nation.

Abdul Hadi said PAS is for all being fair to all races.

Haron said PAS went into the discussions with the belief of raising issues pertaining to all Malaysians and not just about Malay unity.

On why PAS had not notified the DAP, Haron said the alliance partners had an understanding that all three could be involved in independent efforts which benefited the country.