Pro-PAS bloggers have launched a scathing campaign against the Islamic party after its razor thin win in Tuesday's Manek Urai by-election.

If the blogger's comments are anything to go by, the outlook for the party looks grim as cracks seem to be dividing the party at all levels, stretching from top down to the state grassroots.

NONE The unity talks, they claim, is the main cause for this bitter division.

The bloggers say that party members are unhappy because they are "anxious over many difficult questions that are being left unanswered"

Tuesday's by-election saw PAS retaining the seat, considered by many a PAS stronghold, by a mere 65 votes.

It now is widely perceived that PAS is losing its influence as the previous candidate, Ismail Yaakob, had retained the seat with a 1,352 majority during the last general elections.

Ismail Yaakob's death had necessitated the seventh by-election since August last year.

In the by-election PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi received 5,348 votes, while Barisan candidate Tuan Aziz received 5,283 votes.

Intra-state grassroots bickering

One blog site, Tranungkite focused on the rumblings on the ground among intra-state party election workers.

It claimed that there was infighting between Kelantan and Terengganu party workers who were mocking each others during the campaign.

"Just ask the Terengganu workers what was the "welcome note" all about from their Kelantan counterpart," claimed Tranungkite.

Tranungkite asked election workers not to deny the existence of a split in the party.

It went on to claim that there were Kelantan workers who "out-rightly criticised unity government supporters seated at a distance".

The blogger also claimed that some workers from Terengganu had "wished for a PAS defeat" in the by-election.

The meager win, Tranungkite wrote, reveals part of the answer to the question, "Is PAS divided".

Unity talks still dominant issue

Issues from the proposed unity talks between PAS and Umno, propagated by party president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa are still fresh.

Tranungkit - a staunch supporter of the party- claims that the two factions are still split "despite an outward appearance of unity, there is still vengeance in their hearts."

NONE PAS Information Chief for Padang Besar, Zolkharnain Abidin also echoed Tranungkite's sentiments in his blog.

He questioned the behavior of the contestants and their supporters and asked rhetorically if it was conducted in a "friendly and brotherly fashion?"

Among other questions that he raised were if some factions had used the campaign as an opportunity to drag the party's dirty laundry out and "point fingers "at others.

He also added that even if PAS had retained the seat, it has lost on many other fronts.

"They did not lose to Umno but they had lost to their own principles and stand," he wrote

PAS retreat

On another development, PAS abysmal performance in the by-election will be discussed during the party's retreat scheduled for this weekend in Alor Star, Kedah.

The retreat which was pre-planned earlier this month will be attended by all Central Committee members as well as the party's Syurah Council (Religious council).

When contacted by Malaysiakini, party information chief Idris Ahmad said that the unity government talks was not in the agenda for discussion.

But having barely scrapped through the Manek Urai by-election of which the unity talks was a factor in dividing grassroots support, further discussions on the matter seems to be unavoidable.