Flirting with Umno could prove to be a costly blunder.

And incumbent PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa might find this out the hard way when the party's Kelantan strongman Husam Musa takes him on in the party polls next month.

It's an open secret that Nasharuddin forged close ties and initiated secret meetings with Umno after the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat scored unprecedented electoral gains in last year's general election.

p ramasamy husam musa penanti by election ceramah 290509 02 Although it is learnt that it was welcomed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, it did not go down well with Pakatan allies – DAP and PKR - as well as several PAS leaders like Husam.

Husam ( right ) also revealed that religious scholar Nasharuddin's flirtation with Umno was the main reason why he decided to contest for deputy presidency.

"There were many meetings and unwanted close ties with Umno much to my dislike. This is the main reason for my challenge," he said.

The Salor assemblyperson however quickly brushed aside suggestions that it would be a battle between religious scholars (ulamas) and professional elements within the Islamic-based party.

"My challenge against Nasharuddin is not a battle between ulamas and liberals. Don’t forget that Nasharuddin was previously from the same liberal team which I belong," he said.

Party will not be split

Husam also does not believe that his challenge would split the party.

He said it would be a tame affair conducted in a friendly atmosphere, in which he would use only the "power of the wind to sail his boat."

"It's an internal battle and I would not use a high-powered boat to race," he told reporters after speaking at a by-election rally in Mengkuang Titi, Penang last night.

husam musa mat sabu nasharuddin mat isa 220409 The Husam-Nasharuddin clash is being billed as a tussle between the orthodox wing of the country's second biggest Malay-based political party and its reformist wing.

Incumbent vice-president, Muhammad Sabu, also fondly known as Mat Sabu, has also joined the fray.

But speculations are rife that Mat Sabu, who is also among the liberals, might bow out to allow a decisive battle between the two sharply differing factions in the party.

A Pakatan leader observed that Husam would have a greater chance in unseating Nasharuddin in a straight fight.

Don't contest Manek Urai as wel l

Earlier at the rally, echoing PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim's call, Husam called on Umno not to contest in July’s Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan.

He said since Umno has used financial reasons as an excuse not to contest in Sunday’s Penanti by-election, it would be better for the party to leave Manek Urai to PAS, rather than battling a lost cause.

"By being thrifty and cost effective, Umno can save and re-channel public resources to revive and rebuild the country's ailing economy," he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He also took a swipe at Umno’s sudden concern over financial wastage after ‘lavishly spending public funds on mega projects’.