PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu is tight-lipped about possible disciplinary actions he might face over allegations of involvement in an attempt to unseat party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Such claims surfaced when a recording purportedly of him planning to topple Hadi appeared on several blogs.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said he will only give his comment to the party’s leadership if he is required to do so.

“This is an internal party matter. Whatever action against me I will leave it to the party’s muktamar,” Mohamad ( left in photo ) said when met in Butterworth today.

The muktamar will meet in June, where PAS is facing internal polls.

The party is currently beleaguered with internal factional war, especially between the powerful ulama and the ‘progressives’, younger leaders like Mat Sabu himself.

Following news reports of the leaked audio, several quarters have urged PAS to probe the accusations against Mat Sabu.

However, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali who said that the party is probing the leaked audio, claimed he has been unable to contact Mat Sabu.

Asked if he has been called by the party to face the music, Mat Sabu replied in the negative.

Asked if the audio purportedly featuring him planning to unseat Hadi was genuine, Mat Sabu said, “I do not know.”

Asked why he has been unavailable as attempts by journalists to contact him also failed, Mat Sabu said, “I have been overseas.”

Mat Sabu is also mulling to initiate legal proceedings against two mainstream publications which had allegedly featured the leaked audio.

“This I leave to my lawyer (and Serdang MP) Hanipa Maidin for further action,” he quipped.

Mat Sabu was in the Butterworth Sessions Court today to attend his trial for allegedly defaming Bukit Kepong policemen and their families during a ceramah in Tasek Gelugor in August 2011.

Sessions Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi postponed the case to March 27 as prosecution witness historian Khoo Kay Kim was absent today.

According to Penang Prosecution Unit head Razali Che Ani, Khoo has to attend an interview related to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

Khoo, the prosecution’s 11th witness, was also absent on Feb 16, and the case was rescheduled to today.

‘History should not be tried in court’

Mat Sabu’s legal counsel Hanifa had submitted that a historian was not necessary as “history should not be tried in court”.

However, Meor Sulaiman said a historian’s account would help the case as it was a matter of public interest.

“The court can exercise its power to give Mat Sabu a discharge not amounting to an acquittal but will not do so as he could be re-charged,” the judge said.

He also found Khoo’s reason for absence as “trivial” (remeh) but nevertheless allowed the prosecution’s request for a postponement.

Mat Sabu, 61, had claimed trial to a charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation against policemen and their families who were victims of communists attack in the Bukit Kepong tragedy in Johor in 1950.

He faces a jail sentence of up to two years and a fine or both upon conviction.

He faces an alternatively charge for allegedly defaming constables Marin Abu Bakar Daud, Jaafar Hassan and Yusoff Rono and their families at the same time and place.

The charge followed a report by three family members of the constables, Jamilah Abu Bakar, Azlas Jaafar and Nazir Yusoff.