PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa today revealed that PAS and Umno leaders had their first meeting at a private house in Kuala Lumpur in March.

Nasharuddin said that during the meeting, the Umno delegation led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had offered forming joint governments in Perak and Selangor coupled with cabinet posts.

parliament 2008 first day 280408 nasharuddin "They offered us the menteri besar posts. We rejected their offer there and then," Nasharuddin told reporters after the 54th PAS muktamar closing ceremony in Ipoh today.

He said that the meeting took place at a house in Jalan Bellamy, Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah's personal residence is located in Jalan Bellamy, Kuala Lumpur but Nasharuddin did not specifically mention if the meeting took place at Abdullah's residence. He also did not disclose the date of the meeting.

Other members in the PAS delegation included Terengganu PAS commissioner Mustafa Ali and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Three meetings in all

Nasharuddin also revealed that Abdullah had private meetings with PAS leaders on two other occasions which took place in Parliament. However, he was coy about the details.

"It was just a casual chat. We were just having drinks," he said.

To a question, Nasharuddin said that the Majlis Syura - party's most powerful decision-making body consisting of Muslim clerics - was never consulted for the first meeting with Abdullah.

"I was told about the meeting at 12pm, but the appointment was at 5pm. So we didn't have time," he said.

Party grassroots have expressed dissatisfaction with PAS leaders for having engaged in talks with arch nemesis Umno and the issue was hotly debated by delegates at the assembly.

PAS leaders however have defended the talks which were focused on Islam and Malay unity.