PAS, under its new conservative-led leadership, has deviated from the vision of the party's great leaders such as Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Fadzil Noor, PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad says.

Words like "barua, broker, jentik, siku" and "lutut" are becoming commonplace in PAS and form the sign that the party is deviating from the path and direction of its past leaders.

Khalid was referring to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s labelling of party's state assemblypersons "barua" (lackey) and "broker" for siding with Pakatan Rakyat in the Selangor menteri besar crisis.

He also made reference to newly-elected PAS central committee members Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki for his proposal to join forces with Umno to "jentik" (flick away) the demands of non-Muslims and Nasruddin Hassan’s call for PAS to "siku" (elbow) and "lutut" (knee) DAP.

"These developments were unheard of and are not welcome.

"It is a clear deviation from the direction and path laid out by Fadzil Noor and Nik Aziz," Khalid ( photo ) said in a blog posting.

He said former PAS president Fadzil and former spiritual leader Nik Aziz also had a close working relationship with PKR and DAP, which led to the formation of Barisan Alternatif and later, Pakatan Rakyat.

However, Khalid said, under the current PAS leadership, it appeared that having a good relationship and understanding with PKR and DAP meant comprising the principles of PAS.

Views of the new faces ‘no surprise’

"The approaches of Fadzil and Nik Aziz, which were welcomed before, are now frowned upon.

"But it comes as no surprise as those with these views are new faces in PAS.

"They have never interacted with members and leaders of PKR and DAP," Khalid said.

He said Fadzil and Nik Aziz had envisioned PAS as a mainstream political party that can defend the rights of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

As such, the progressives of PAS should defend this legacy.

Khalid's blog posting comes amid talk that the PAS progressives are considering the establishment of a new political party.

However, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang warned today that those who abandon the ship would "drown".