Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng took a dig at former PAS leader Nasharuddin Mat Isa for being appointed CEO of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s pet project, the Global Movement for Moderates in Malaysia (GMM).

Lim offered his congratulations but said this merely proved that PAS and Umno were inching closer to one another, despite being former arch-enemies.

“Congrats to Nasharuddin, this shows PAS and Umno are dancing closer together,” Lim said at a press conference in Komtar today.

“However, whether he is indeed ‘moderate’ will be seen from his record,” he added.

Replacement for Saifuddin

Nasharuddin replaced former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah as GMM CEO when the latter, citing disenchantment with Umno, joined PKR on Oct 16.

Nasharudin was PAS deputy chief from 2005 to 2011. He was also Yan MP from 1999-2004, and MP for Bachok from 2008-2013.

When he was PAS number two, Nasharudin was caught in the PAS-Umno 'unity government' controversy, which had irked PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat. Nik Aziz passed away in 2013.

Nasharuddin lost to former PAS deputy chief Mohamad Sabu in 2011 in the party’s internal polls.

Following this, he kept a low profile but was perceived as becoming closer to Najib.