Nik Aziz and Nasha agree with no unity talks

The much-watched meeting of top PAS leaders ended with spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat reconciling with deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, whom he had publicly berated for not turning down an invitation from Prime Minister Najib Razak to hold unity talks.

“In family spirit, we have decided to settle our differences over the issue which has been exploited by the mainstream media,” Nik Aziz said in a statement issued on Monday night.

“We have unanimously agreed to forget all the misconceptions among the top leadership as a result of Umno’s political games. So this issue between me and him should no longer be raised.”

No two ways about it - absolutely no unity talks with Umno

Nik Aziz, the party’s senior-most leader, had alarmed members last week with an unusually harsh attack against Nasharudin, who was re-elected as deputy president earlier this month.

Nik Aziz demanded that Nasharudin quit the post and resign as Bachok MP, spurring more than half the party’s 21 lawmakers to stand behind their revered spiritual adviser, who is also the Kelantan Menteri Besar.

Both men also agreed not to raise the issue of unity talks again. Their decision is in line with the common stand taken by the Pakatan Rakyat, which earlier in the day rejected Najib’s offer to form a unity government.

The coalition however welcomed discussion with the government on several key issues including how to revive the economy, improve the quality of education and restoring the independence of the judiciary.

The three partners PKR, DAP and PAS also reiterated their loyalty to each other and renewed their pledge to form the next federal government together.

“We have also unanimously agreed that unity government talks be stopped with immediate effect as decided by PAS president Hadi Awang and Pakatan Rakyat,” Nik Aziz said. (SK)