Hadi owes explanation over unity talks

PAS leaders owe a thorough explanation to Pakatan Rakyat top leadership on the party's unity talks with Umno, DAP leader Lim Guan Eng said today.

As a coalition partner, the DAP secretary-general pointed out that PAS should not keep its allies, the DAP and PKR, in the dark over its ambitious plan to form a unity government in collaboration with Umno.

Lim said the PAS leadership had never explained to the Pakatan leadership over its alleged unity talks held last year with Umno.

He refuted claims by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that Pakatan leaders were receptive to the unity talks when PAS explained it to them.

"Pakatan leadership never discussed the unity talks, neither did PAS inform us about it.

"We are unaware of the goings-on," he told journalists after witnessing the swearing-in of new Penang Island Municipal Council president Tan Cheng Chui.

Be truthful

Lim reminded Abdul Hadi to be truthful and be a God fearing person.

"As a religious man, one will not be answerable only to DAP, but also God," he said.

The issue of unity talks dominated PAS' annual congress over the weekend with many leaders and delegates slamming the party leadership's initiatives to hold talks with arch rivals Umno to form an ambitious unity government at the federal level.

Even the much-revered PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and ousted Perak menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin openly opposed such an idea, which if materialised, could weaken the Pakatan coalition.

The unity talk was the main reason for Kelantan PAS strongman Husam Musa to challenge Nasharuddin Mat Isa for the deputy president's post. However he was defeated by the incumbent.

"There were too many unity talks with Umno much to my disliking.

"PAS should replace Umno, not complement it," Husam had told journalists a week before the contest.

To be raised at next Pakatan meeting

Nasharuddin has reportedly started the unity talk with Umno with a blessing from Abdul Hadi much to annoyance of many PAS, DAP and PKR leaders.

The unity talks left Pakatan in lurch and the alliance is now seeking answers from PAS leadership.

Sources close to Anwar Ibrahim said that the PKR supremo feared a Pakatan break-up due to Nasharuddin's overzealous attempt to grab federal powers via collaboration with Umno.

The sources claimed that the unity talks began the very next day after Pakatan scored unprecedented electoral gains in last year's general election on March 8.

"The people wanted to change the country's political landscape away from Umno's dominance and hegemony.

"But Nasharuddin was playing right into Umno's game," added the sources.

Lim pointed out that even PAS was internally divided over the issue and many were unhappy with the party's collaboration with Umno.

He hinted that the Pakatan top leadership would hold a meeting during next week's parliamentary sitting, in which PAS would be quizzed over its ambitious unity talks with Umno.

Wan Azizah: Important for them to explain

Meanwhile PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that it was important for PAS leaders to explain on their idea of unity talks with Umno.

However she added that PKR will not deter PAS from holding such talks.

"Neither will we question their intentions to discuss with any parties on matter of national interest," she said in a statement today.

She also stressed that PKR was committed to ensure that Pakatan always remained in a strong and united position.

"We hope that our partners PAS and DAP will also have the same commitment," she said.