PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat has shot down suggestions that the Islamic party should form a unity government with rival party Umno.

He said that a unity government with Umno would be going against the decision made during the party's annual assembly, or the 54th muktamar, last August.

pas 2007 muktamar 020607 nik aziz finger "If we want to discuss the forming a government with Umno, we need a special meeting. Don't make a decision (at the muktamar) but say something else (later). I don't agree with that.

"I stick with the decision made by during the muktamar. Only then can our position be solid and we would be seen as having discipline," he said in Kota Bharu today, reported Bernama.

At last year’s muktamar, PAS passed resolutions on the need to strengthen the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and ruling out forming a coalition government with BN.

Nik Aziz to back party’s decision

However, Nik Aziz said that should a special meeting of party vote to change its stand on the matter, then he would accept the decision.

Last month, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang caused a stir when he suggested a unity government to tackle economic woes and calm political tensions.

Abdul Hadi's suggestion is backed by the party's powerful youth wing and has found endorsement from influential former Umno vice-president, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Several top PAS leaders led by Abdul Hadi held clandestine discussions with Umno leaders to discuss possible collaborations following BN's dismal performance in the general elections last year.

Back then, Nik Aziz was the chief opponent to the talks as previous collaborations with Umno, such as PAS' short stint in BN during the 1970s, had failed.

It is believed that the majority of party grassroots are also against any ties with Umno.