PAS ready to hold unity talks with Umno

KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS has offered to have a muzakarah (discussion) with Umno before the general election.

PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said it should be done in the interest of Muslim unity and not be politically motivated.

“Such talks are encouraged in Islam to forge unity among the ummah (Muslim community),” he told reporters after opening the Kuala Terengganu PAS annual general meeting here yesterday.

“It would be better if the muzakarah is held before the elections,” he added.

Nik Aziz had snubbed the idea of unity talks in the past but rekindled the issue recently by saying PAS was prepared to have a muzakarah with anyone, including Umno, in which PAS can explain its Islamic struggles and principles.

Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had responded by saying the party was also prepared to discuss the issue of Muslim unity with PAS.

Asked about this, Nik Aziz said Umno must first change its nationalist policy to one that is Islam-based and to also accept PAS allies, PKR and DAP as partners.

In MALACCA, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said such dialogues to promote unity among different groups of people should be done as soon as possible.

“Enough with just suggestions. We should just do it although we may have different ideologies and agenda,” he told reporters after opening a youth programme at Taman Merak Mas in Bukit Katil yesterday.