Muzakarah leave PAS grassroots, PKR and DAP unsettled, says Nik Aziz

It might not be an overstatement to say that politically PAS was founded with clear cut and coherent Islamic ideology or philosophy beyond the selfish desire to capture political power.

Although politics thrives better on conflicts which are the bastions of ideologies, but we can also argue for the fact that PAS was founded on deep rooted Islam ideology and purely an Islamic party while UMNO was based on nationalism.

The political ideology of PAS and UMNO are conflicting as they are different from one another. These differences are natural as conflict is the nature in human and particularly political relations.

Muzakarah (dialogue) between the PAS and UMNO, hence is a good strategy of UMNO to create crisis within PAS and effects are akin to seismic shifts in the nation’s political landscape to leave PAS grassroots, PKR and DAP unsettled.

The interesting question arises: Can the effects of Muzakarah (dialogue) between PAS and UMNO akin to seismic shifts in the current political landscape and finally cause PAS irrelevant politically?

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat wants the muzakarah (dialogue) between the party and UMNO to stop.

He said the party grassroots were unsettled with the dialogue.

He added that nothing was expected to materialize from such talks because both parties had different ideologies, namely one was an Islamist party while the other was based on nationalism.

Nik Aziz pointed out that the talks that UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had with three PAS decision-makers on the issue of Malays and Islam were of a personal nature rather than formal party-to-party discussions.

“It is really nothing. It is the media that played it up. I leave it to the party to decide the next course but we must admit that such things leave our grassroots, PKR and DAP unsettled,” he told a press conference.

Nik Aziz said this would be the last time he would comment on the dialogue. Asked when would be a good time for such a dialogue, he said probably after the general election in 2013 or much later.

He refused to say if PAS was now split in view of the differing versions from various leaders.

Nik Aziz warned that PAS should be careful not to be trapped by UMNO, which was now weak and needed to create some form of diversion from the party’s internal issues.

“My wish is that soon UMNO would become the Opposition in the country. Those who want to can join PAS,” he said.