January 03, 2011
Nik Aziz said he was not at liberty to divulge the matters discussed with Najib. — file pic
KOTA BARU, Jan 3 — PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today confirmed he met with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but refused to disclose what transpired at the Christmas Eve dinner.
The Kelantan mentri besar said the meeting was private in nature and should not be discussed publicly.
“There were discussions. It is not possible to meet the prime minister without discussing anything,” he was quoted as saying by Harakah Daily.
“I can’t reveal the content because it was a closed door meeting, we have to adhere to the rules when meeting senior leader, so how can I comment?” said Nik Aziz.
He also refused to say if the meeting was over Kelantan’s demand for oil royalty.
The Malaysian Insider reported today that the dinner, hosted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, took place on Christmas Eve and was also attended by Najib’s deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
It was unclear if PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang or his deputy, Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who were previously accused of favouring co-operation with Umno, were at the dinner.
News of the meeting between leaders of the two biggest Malay parties in the country was also prominently reported in PAS-linked tabloid Siasah.
In its latest edition, Siasah chief editor Sayuti Omar wrote that the meeting involved “three major figures from the two different parties.”
The weekly reported that Abdul Hadi was also invited by was unable to attend as he was in London. It did not confirm Nasharuddin’s attendance.
News of the meeting with Umno leaders comes just six months before PAS is scheduled to hold its biennial election in June.
The issue of political co-operation with Umno became a major campaign issue in the 2009 PAS election after it was revealed that party leaders, including Nasharuddin and Selangor chief Datuk Hasan Ali, met with then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo after Election 2008 to explore the possibility of forming a unity government.
Leaders aligned to Nik Aziz then accused Nasharuddin of conspiring to take PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but the deputy president successfully defended his post in a three-cornered fight with Mohamad Sabu and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa.
PAS holds 23 parliamentary seats within the PR coalition and controls two states, Kelantan and Kedah. The other two PR-ruled states are Penang and Selangor.
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