Hadi asks Dr M to shut up

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today ticked off Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying he should not interfere in the Islamist party rocky leadership crisis.

“Only the party can decide on the leadership,” Hadi told reporters in Parliament.

He was responding to Dr Mahathir’s call yesterday for the PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to step down because of his age.

Last week the Kelantan mentri besar called on the party to convene a special muktamar to oust certain leaders he claimed to be “problematic.”

“We practice democracy in PAS and we allow everyone to express their views, there had been differences of opinion before and we handled it well,” said Hadi on Nik Aziz’s call.

He said that Nik Aziz as the head of the syura council is responsible in ensuring that the party is run according to the direction set by the body.

“We practice collective leadership and he is still the head of the syura,” said Hadi.

When asked about Nik Aziz's attendance to the central committee meeting tomorrow night, Hadi said the party understands his tight schedule.

“It will depend on his health, we know about his health and he is also busy because the Kelantan state assembly is still in session,” said Hadi.

The special committee meeting was called to decide whether a special muktamar is necessary. Nik Aziz was invited to attend the meeting in his capacity as the Kelantan party chief.

On allegation that PR parties were responsible for instigating Nik Aziz to make the call for EGM Hadi dismissed it as baseless.

“I don't believe that, we have a good relationship with Pakatan and we meet at least twice a week,” said Hadi.

He also said the unity government proposal which was raised early this year had been dropped.

“We proposed it during the administration of Tun Abdullah Badawi and things have changed,” said Hadi when asked about his stand on forming political cooperation with Umno.