The steering committee activated to oversee states under the administration of PAS, including Kedah, is only an advisory body, has no executive powers and will not interfere with state administration, the party said today.

"It is not an executive body, but only to give advice, not to interfere in the state's (administration)," PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu told a press conference.

Speaking to reporters after the Islamic party's monthly central working committee meeting, Mohamad or Mat Sabu as he is better known, explained that the steering committee has been around since 1990.

"It is nothing new, sometimes it is active, sometimes it is not. We re-activate it from time to time."

NONE PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali ( right ) then explained that the panel was being activated again now as the need had arisen.

"For every election, we have manifestoes at the state and the central levels, outlining our promises to the rakyat.

"The purpose of the steering committee is to ensure that the (implementation of the) manifestoes, our promises are being monitored.

"If the committee has any advice, we shall give to the state leaders. It is up to them to implement. That is all," Mustafa explained.

He also denied that the committee would have access to the state executive councils. The steering committee was a body at the party level that could not and would not interfere with the day-to-day administration of the states.

He chastised certain parties whom he said had speculated wrongly about the steering committee and its purpose, calling it "a case of misinterpretation".

Former Kelantan deputy MB to head panel

"I have already clarified the matter. If (my message) is not received, it is not my fault, the fault lies with those who misinterpreted."

Mustafa announced that the steering committee to monitor all PAS-led states would be chaired by former Kelantan deputy menteri besar Halim Abdul Rahman.

"He is a former Kelantan deputy menteri besar and he is well-versed in matters of state administration," he added.

Other members include Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar, deputy ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed, central PAS legal bureau chief Asmawi Awi and Mustafa himself.

Asked if there could be any conflict with Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, who reportedly said that he would only follow the state constitution and not an 'unconstitutional committee', Mustafa dismissed the matter as spin.

"I don't think he said that, Azizan didn't say that. You are the one who said that," he said, jokingly, at the reporter who asked the question.

Asked what would happen if a state menteri besar refused to follow the advice of the committee, Mat Sabu said they would cross the bridge when they they came to it.

Mustafa again reiterated that the committee's advice was a party matter, would have no executive weight and should not conflict with the state constitution or interfere with state administration.

On the matter of the University and University Colleges Act, which had been the sore point in Kedah, Mustafa said the committee would stand by Pakatan Rakyat's stand on the Act and work for its repeal.