KOTA BARU: The ulama may have won in the recently concluded PAS muktamar but the factional fighting is far from over.

A secret meeting of the so-called Erdogans has been held in Kuala Lumpur to discuss ways to thwart the party leadership’s unity government proposal.

Sources said the meeting was attended by almost all those who lost in the party elections last week and included PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, senior state executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa, Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli and former secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.

The meeting centred on discussions to counter the conservatives, who are bent on forging closer ties with Umno. “A definite plan is necessary to formulate ways to derail the unity talks subtly. Nik Aziz is very disappointed with the efforts to revive the talks.

“He is also disappointed that almost all of Kelantan representatives in the party’s top posts lost in the elections,” said a source familiar with the meeting.

He said any overt display of a split in the party over the unity talks would not augur well for its preparations for the Manek Urai by-election next month.

“Nik Aziz is a powerful ulama and he has the clout to do something about it,” he said.

“But the trick is to do it subtly without raising any eyebrows. Otherwise, it will mean that Nik Aziz cannot accept the loss of the Kelantan PAS candidates,” the source said.

Both Nik Aziz and Husam are believed to be spearheading the group and will probably rope in former party vice-president Moha-med Sabu, who lost in his bid for the deputy president’s post.

“There will be a definite plan after a series of secret meetings and we will see whether it will further split the party and plunge it into a political abyss,” he added.

by The Star Online
http://thestar.com.my