Nasharuddin says he is not problematic, backs Pakatan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Nasharuddin Mat Isa denied today that he was a problematic leader and said the fact that he was elected by an overwhelming majority as PAS deputy president showed otherwise.

In his first comment since Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat had named him as among "problematic" leaders who were not fully committed to Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the PAS No. 2 also pledged his party's full commitment towards the opposition coalition.

Nik Aziz, the PAS spiritual leader, had last week called for a special muktamar to rid the party of leaders whom he described as “problematic” and seen to favour working closely with Umno instead of strengthening PR.

He had named Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali along with Nasharuddin and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Alias as those who had made the party look inconsistent.

Nasharuddin said today that he was surprised that he was named by Nik Aziz because it is common practice for top leaders to just give advice to its members.

“The way we work in PAS, especially the top leaders and him as the spiritual leader will give us advice. And he always warns us on some issues and so on. It so happened that on this particular issue, the advice from him came from a blog.

"But when he explained what he meant by his article in that blog, it was discussed and the central committee came up with the conclusion that was reached last night,” he told reporters in Parliament.

Nasharuddin blamed the current problem in PAS on the poor leadership that emerged after the party’s annual general assembly or muktamar in Ipoh and Shah Alam this year.

“As far as for the future political landscape, we are going to be with Pakatan Rakyat. And we are going to strengthen that. And this was proved by many events or programmes organised together and also the continuous meetings we have with top leadership and also leadership at different levels.

“Of course, there are hiccups here and there, but that can be avoided but I think as far as the basic principle is concerned, we are still very much with Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

He stressed that the party’s position has always been to remain in PR.

“Our position stays as I mentioned earlier that we keep to the resolution from the muktamar, both in Ipoh and Shah Alam, that we are going to stay put in Pakatan, enhance, strengthen Pakatan and the process is ongoing and more programmes are being organised now and details being discussed at different levels,” he said.

He also said the disciplinary committee would present its findings in a report and the next course of action against Selangor PAS will be decided by the party’s central committee.

Central committee members last night unanimously decided not to call for a special muktamar as demanded by Nik Aziz.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang however said the disciplinary committee has been told to investigate various allegations directed at Selangor PAS.