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    26 May 2012| last updated at 01:45AM

    Nik Aziz flip-flops on ‘muzakarah’

    By SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH and AUDREY DERMAWAN

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    KOTA BARU: Less than 48 hours after declaring that the muzakarah between Pas and Umno should proceed, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has made an about-turn yesterday.

    Now, the Pas spiritual adviser says the issue should be stopped.

    “No more issue on muzakarah. We have to follow what the leader has decided,” Nik Aziz told reporters at his weekly ceramah yesterday.

    The idea for a muzakarah was reportedly mooted by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who on May 13, said the party was open to discussions with any Muslim non-governmental organisation, including Umno, to resolve allegations that Pas had deviated from its original struggle.

    Nik Aziz had then set conditions for the dialogue to proceed, one of which was “Why Umno rejects Islam”. Following this, Hadi claimed that Pas was only keen to have the muzakarah with Muslim non-governmental organisations, and not Umno as reported.

    Subsequently, Nik Aziz, who is Kelantan menteri besar, insisted that the muzakarah was very important and it should proceed to clear the air on issues affecting the nation. He also said the muzakarah should not be construed
    as Pas’ intention to join Umno.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said Umno was open to the idea, adding this was not new, as the party was always willing to hold talks on Islam with Pas.

    Nik Aziz’s intention to have the muzakarah had invited criticism from various quarters, including Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu

    On Thursday evening, after a ceramah at Kampung Padang Kabar, Wakaf Dua, in Marang, Mohamad had said that there was no need for a muzakarah.

    He had said that the issue (on muzakarah) has been around for the longest time, especially when elections were nearing.

    On his conflicting stand with Hadi,  Nik Aziz had said that it was okay if Hadi did not agree with him.

    “I do not interfere with what the president does,” he added.

    Mohamad had added that talks with Umno was not important as the current focus should be on “fighting Umno in the elections”.   

    “This issue (of muzakarah) is a ploy used by Umno to disrupt the unity between Pas and its Chinese and Indian supporters.”

    Kelantan Umno liaison committee chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said he would discuss with the state leaders in case Nik Aziz decided to hold the muzakarah.

    “I will discuss the matter with all the members in the liaison committee first before making the decision,” he said at a dialogue on Kelantan ummah development, yesterday.

    He was responding to a statement by Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who proposed that the muzakarah be held at state level.  Additional reporting by A. Azim Idris

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