Umno 'opportunists' causing friction in PAS
Malaysiakini.com
Jul 22, 2008

Umno ‘opportunists' must put their own house in order before meddling in the affairs of PAS.
MCPX

The party's Johor information chief Mazlan Aliman said these opportunists were creating discord among PAS leaders by making speculations that the two Malay-dominated parties were forging a power-sharing arrangement.

"As an exco member of PAS' working committee, I wish to state my disappointment with the media reports on the issue of the PAS-Umno muzakarah (discussions)," he said in a statement today.

"Although PAS does not deny the importance of having talks with Umno for the good of Islam and the survival of Malays, it is not at all true that the talks are oriented towards (discussing) the sharing of power.

"Rather, PAS' aspiration through the mandate given to it in the past general election to strengthen its understanding with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP in Pakatan Rakyat has never changed," he said.

According to Mazlan, two PAS exco meetings on June 8 and 25 resolved that the party would remain in and be at the forefront of Pakatan, be proactive within Paktan to struggle for Islam, be proactive in Pakatan-led states and strengthen its PAS supporters clubs.

He said a party meeting in Johor on July 20 reiterated the same commitment.

"The PAS Johor convention on Aug 3, to be officiated by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, will be the arena where delegates debate the cooperation within Pakatan and reject any political negotiations with Umno.

"I support the call by PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for all PAS leaders to unite and avoid being divided by the machinations of opportunists. Umno must put its own house in order before meddling in PAS' affairs," said Mazlan.

Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revealed on Sunday that Umno had held three talks with PAS leaders to discuss matters pertaining to Islam and the Malays.

Hadi confirmed the talks yesterday. However Malaysiakini also learnt that a potential power sharing deal in Selangor was the main point of discussion in the very first meeting held between the parties right after the March 8 general election.

Umno's true colours

Meanwhile Selangor DAP secretary Lau Weng San said that a coalition government between PAS and BN in the state would be "unfeasible, unviable, impossible and unsustainable".

He said that it would be quite impossible for such idea to materialise in Selangor.

"BN Selangor is basically reduced to Umno alone as MIC, PPP and Gerakan are completely wiped out while MCA is reduced to a mosquito political party with only two state seats and one parliament seat," said the Kampung Tunku state representative in a statement today.

He added that the combined number of seats of Umno (18), MCA (2) and PAS (8) would only add up to 28 seats, half of the state's 56 seats, which are in the hands of PKR and DAP.

He said that the proposed BN-PAS line up would also contain 90 percent of Malays with only one female assemblyperson.

"This line-up will fail to represent the racial breakdown in Selangor," he added.

He said that Umno's intention in proposing a joint government with PAS was clear - to have a Malay-dominant government which was unfeasible and unsustainable. 

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