In this second part of an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini , the controversial and outspoken independent Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali addresses the all-important question: Will he or won't rejoin Umno?

NONE He has previously held the posts of Umno branch and division chief, a youth exco member and an Umno supreme council member in the 1980s.

Yet, Ibrahim Ali, the Pasir Mas MP now cuts a forlorn figure in Parliament as an independent.

He contested under the PAS ticket in 2008, but remains an independent elected representative highly critical of the Kelantan government under Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He was detained under the Internal Security Act not once, but twice. He is grateful for his incarceration, claiming it has made him a resilient man.

Despite all his controversies, he still garners a sizeable support within Kelantan and especially in Pasir Mas, the parliamentary seat he first won under the Umno ticket in 1986.

Here the 58-year-old politician relates his experience with PAS and Umno and also addresses the burning question of whether he will rejoin Umno.

Malaysiakini : Tell us about your relationship with PAS especially during last year's general election?

Ibrahim : A special arrangement was made. I contested under the PAS ticket as it badly wanted to retain the state government which it nearly lost in 2004.

NONE Following Umno's win in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election, PAS was under tremendous pressure, heading into the 2008 general election with a single seat majority.

PAS had 23 state seats and Umno 22.

PAS approached me and asked if I would be contesting. I told them I would and was prepared for a two- or even a three-way contest. They struck a deal, saying PAS will not contest in Pasir Mas so as to pave the way for me to contest against Umno.

The strategy was for PAS to use my influence to help them win the state seat in Pasir Mas so they could retain the Kelantan government. I was allowed the freedom to use my own symbol or use the PAS symbol. I decided to use the PAS symbol.

However, no one expected the political tsunami and PAS garnered a huge majority in Kelantan. Now that they had won big, they wanted to sideline me by asking me to quit my Pasir Mas parliamentary seat because I had been critical of the Kelantan government.

PAS had used me and that is how the party is, they like to use people for their own ends.

Do you have differences with Nik Aziz?

I had called on him to resign after a spat where he asked me to resign and relinquish my post as Pasir Mas MP. I had disagreed with several actions taken by the Kelantan PAS government.

Umno then made accusations that Nik Aziz did not bring much development to Kelantan and called on him to resign. I agreed and supported the call.

My message to Tok Guru was, do not be "takabur" (arrogant). I too, played a role in bringing much development to Kelantan.

I helped in the development of the Tendong bridge, the expansion of the Kota Bharu airport, the youth training institute and many other projects. I just did not want to brag about it. I respect Tok Guru, but to me he is a political ulama.

Did the strain in ties with Tok Guru lead you to consider rejoining Umno?

I have always been an Umno man since joining the party in 1981 but that is not the reason. It started when a delegate from Kelantan Umno offered to relinquish his post to me during the party's general assembly earlier this month if I rejoined Umno.

NONE Following that, a Bernama reporter asked me if I would consider rejoining Umno if there was an invitation. I told him that I would not discount the possibility of joining any political party even Umno but such a move was not in my immediate plans. That was my reply.

However, following that, the media twisted my reply and gave an impression that I was keen on rejoining the Umno. I have not decided and am keeping my options open.

But I can say this, Umno is not like PAS. PAS would say it is good to use Ibrahim Ali as he does not want power, timber, etc.

Umno, I know will safeguard the Malays, Islam and the country.

In terms of percentage, how much are you leaning towards joining Umno?

I cannot say. Umno is stronger after winning Bagan Pinang. Man can make plans, God determines how things will turn out.

Although I'm not an Umno member, my heart is with the party as I'm a true Malay and devout Muslim. As long as I'm struggling to see the betterment of my race I will contest regardless of any political party. That is politics.

Why do you seem to be opposing Pakatan Rakyat?

NONE I do this because of DAP's opposition to Islam and the change in the current political scenario. I feel that they (the opposition) are undermining the position of Islam, the Malay language and also the royal institution.

They called for a shift in paradigm but they forget the foundation on which the country was built on.

What are your views on the Kelantan oil royalty issue?

I have raised a query in Parliament and I hope it will be answered. If Kelantan is entitled to oil royalties, it should be given. God will punish (the federal government) if they withhold what is rightfully due to them.

I want the Federal government to go on record on this matter.

Will you contest in the next general election?

If my health permits, I will contest. Being an independent allows me to make decisions without any kind of pressure.

Part 1: Ibrahim Ali: I'm an Islamic nationalist