PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today threw in some conditions before his party would engage with arch-rival Umno in unity talks.

He said that the talks can only take place if the BN-ruled federal government free the judiciary and the media and respect the doctrine of separation of powers.

Until such assurances can be given, Abdul Hadi said all talks about the unity dialogues will remain mere "academic discussions".

"I want the ruling coalition to make the changes first, and I will prioritise these issues with them.

pas hadi awang nasharuddin nizar jamaluddin pc 110609 02 "If they do make these changes, only then will I be prepared to see them and talk," he said at a press conference at PAS headquarters today.

Flanked by his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa and newly-appointed information chief Idris Ahmad, the president reiterated that the Islamic party will remain in Pakatan Rakyat.

When asked if he needed to explain to his Pakatan counterparts of his party's stance regarding the much-anticipated unity talks with BN, he said: "This question to explain does not arise".

"Besides, the unity talks have not become a proposal and it was not even discussed concretely in the party," he said.

He also added that he would only give his explanation regarding the unity talks "if a member party or Pakatan leaders ask him (personally)".

"If I answer through the media, the media would not provide detailed information on what I have to say," he said.

Unaware of Nik Aziz's meeting

pas nik aziz speech 060609 02 Abdul Hadi also claimed that he had no knowledge of a meeting held by party's spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat with several PAS leaders on Monday night to thwart possible moves to hold the unity talks with BN.

Senior party leaders Husam Musa and Mahfuz Omar were said to be at the meeting.

"No, I have no knowledge about it," said Abdul Hadi.

He added that he had no idea of Opposition Leader and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's remarks in his blog that Pakatan leaders had discuss the unity talks issue on Monday.

"No, I did not read his blog," he said, without elaborating.

"I don't want to waste time on this issue, I only want to focus on the party structure as of now," he stressed.

Abdul Hadi's proposals for the unity talk have been strenuously objected by many party leaders such as Nik Aziz, Husam and Mahfuz as they believed in forging a stronger relationship with Anwar-led Pakatan Rakyat.

Pakatan leaders such as PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and DAP leaders Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang have also sought explanation from Abdul Hadi on the unity talks.

On a separate matter, Abdul Hadi was also asked about his meeting with Singapore's senior leader Lee Kuan Yew last night.

"We have had a meeting with him for about one hour and we talked about national unity.

"We were also asked about PAS' views regarding multi-cultural country and he also was interested in PAS' foreign policy including with Singapore," he said.

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