Despite pressure from within his own party, beleaguered former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa has received support from Kelantan Umno for questioning PAS' stance over the hudud issue.

NONE Kelantan Umno deputy chairperson Awang Adek Hussin (right), who was once Nasharudin's arch-rival, said Nasharudin's bold statement represents the voice of many PAS members who dare not go against the party leadership.

Awang Adek was defeated by Nasharudin in the last general election in the parliamentary constituency of Bachok by a thin majority of 2,901 votes.

According to Malay daily Sinar Harian , the deputy finance minister claimed that he has received feedback from professional groups who are not comfortable with the collaboration between PAS and DAP.

“I believe he (Nasharudin) is not alone because they are still other PAS members who are not comfortable with PAS and DAP.

“But other members may not be as courageous as Nasharudin who has seen that the direction of PAS has increasingly deviated from its original struggle and is now following the direction of DAP,”  he reportedly told media last night at Bachok.

Awang Adek also dismissed the call by Kelatan PAS Youth that Nasharudin should resign as Bachok MP.

“This is a call based on nafsu (desire). Now is the month of Ramadan, we should not follow nafsu . Since the general election is coming, I think such demand should not be entertained because he was chosen by the rakyat.

“Let his tenure end when the Parliament is dissolved soon,” he added.