A former PAS veteran has urged the party's spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to abdicate his position as the head of the syura council, the party's highest decision-making body, so that his deputy Haron Din can take over.

Nakhaie Ahmad, ex pas vice president now umno member Former PAS vice-president Nakhaie Ahmad ( left ) told Berita Harian that Nik Aziz has digressed from the party's original struggle to establish an Islamic state, making him a liability to the party.

"Other leaders criticised DAP for questioning the implementation of hudud, but Nik Aziz is against those leaders by supporting DAP. He is not with the party's struggle," Nakhaie is quoted as saying.

Echoing former Selangor PAS state commissioner Hasan Ali, who has been sacked from the party, Nakhaie said Haron was the best candidate to replace the long-time Kelantan menteri besar.

Hasan has also called on Nik Aziz to relinquish his position in the syura council for defending the party's cooperation with DAP within Pakatan Rakyat.

According to Utusan Malaysia today, Universiti Malaya deputy vice-chancellor Azrae Idris also welcomed Hasan's statement, claiming that a big number of PAS members wanted the party to return to its struggle.

Ikatan Muslim Malaysia president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman also called on Nik Aziz to retire, as he has held the party's highest position for many years.