THERE should be no further attempts by Parti Islam Malaysia leaders to forge closer political alliance with Umno -- that is, if they choose to heed the advice of the party's religious scholars.

Should there be any talk between the two political rivals, it will be only normal discussions (muqabalah) and not muzakarah (dialogue) on Malay unity, Islamic issues and problems faced by the five states under Pakatan Rakyat's government -- like what transpired during past meetings.

This assurance from Pas' highest decision-making body -- Majlis Syura Ulama or the consultative council of religious scholars -- on Wednesday should have a cooling-off effect on rising temperatures among the rank and file, many of whom are highly suspicious of their top leaders' meetings with Umno counterparts.

There was in fact no new decision made as to Pas' stand on talks with Umno except to stop using the Arabic term muzakarah and replace it with muqabalah.

Holding talks with Umno, as decreed by the Syura council on April 23, remains harus or permissible.
While muzakarah is encouraged in Islam, this Arabic word found a new meaning, within the present political climate coupled with the fact that Pas leaders are being courted by its arch-nemesis, Umno. To many within the rank and file in Pas and Pakatan Rakyat, it sim-ply means discussions towards power sharing bet-ween Umno and Pas and Pas eventually rejoining Barisan Nasional.

There has been a lot of uneasiness among Pas members, including the veterans who are strongly against the party having any kind of collaboration with its political enemy, what more the prospect of re-joining BN.

This sentiment has been widely reflected in comments and discussions posted in pro-Pas blogs.

Leaders seen to be supportive of the Pas-Umno collaboration incurred the wrath of Pas members as well as those of Pakatan, more so after party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's confirmation that talks had indeed taken place.

The majority of the leaders and grassroots are unhappy. Many are still bitter about what Umno allegedly did to Pas when it collaborated with Umno and BN from 1970 to 1978. Some even threatened to leave the party then.

It was indeed very painful for Pas to see its members split into groups after it joined BN. While the faithful stayed on to rebuild the party, some joined Umno and splinter parties like Berjasa and Hamim. A small fraction chose to become inactive in Pas.

Pas members, especially the veterans, even the party's spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, felt strongly that there were unseen hands trying to exploit Pas the second time around.

As it had been proven that Pas did not need Umno to survive in mainstream politics, its members simply cannot see the need for the party, which Umno had been demonising, even casting the party as fundamentalist, radical and militant, to collaborate with Umno.

To them, Umno had been weakened after the March 8 polls and is trying hard to woo Pas in the name of solidarity of the Malays and ummah.

Whatever reasons Umno has, its ability to court Pas to sit down for several meetings has succeeded in stirring the otherwise calm situation in Pas. It has in a way caused a minor split.

But the fact remains that the image of some Pas leaders has been bruised by the events for they have been accused of going after posts purportedly offered by Umno. One or two will definitely face the firing squad from delegates attending the party's muktamar in Ipoh in the middle of next month.