DAP national chairman Karpal Singh today agreed with Nik Aziz that PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa should leave PAS if the latter insists on having unity talks with arch rivals Umno.

"If he still insists on unity talks then there is no alternative, he should leave, (especially) coming in the wake of Nik Aziz's reprimand yesterday. It was more than a reprimand," said the Bukit Gelugor MP.

kampung buah pala penang karpal singh meet 120609 03 When asked if he agreed with Nik Aziz's statement yesterday, Karpal (right) said yes and added, "the old man spoke with wisdom."

He added that Nik Aziz's word as the spiritual leader should be respected and that his reverence is something akin to Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini.

Nasharuddin yesterday came under fire from Nik Aziz over his continued backing to hold unity talks with Umno.

Scrap idea and make open retraction

A visibly upset Nik Aziz had asked Nasharuddin to leave the party and join Umno if he insisted on forging the talks with Umno.

Karpal further added that Hadi should scrap the idea of unity talks and that both the president and his deputy president should openly retract the statements made earlier on the unity government issue.

He also shed doubts on Nasharuddin's leadership, citing that in the number of votes garnered for the deputy president position in the party's general assembly recently, Mohamad Sabu and Husam Musa's votes put together surpassed Nasharuddin's majority.

Nasharuddin garnered 480 votes against Husam's 281 while outgoing vice-president Mohamad Sabu bagged 261 votes.

Nasharuddin and PAS president Hadi Awang are in favour of such talks where else, Nik Aziz (below) and his main man Husam Musa are against it.

penanti by election pakatan leaders ceramah sivakumar nik aziz anwar tian chua 280509 01 Karpal stressed that the DAP had nothing to do with intentions of having unity talks with Umno and will never accept such an idea.

Asked if the split in the PAS leadership will affect Pakatan Rakyat, Karpal answered, "No, the Pakatan is still intact."

'We will win in Manek Urai'

He also added confidently that PAS will win in the upcoming Manek Urai by-election and its Pakatan allies will help the party retain the seat.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said that BN- Pakatan unity talks were premature.

"At first it was only Umno and PAS. Suddenly we are talking about BN and Pakatan, it is like a drama," he said at a press conference in parliament today.

He was clearly referring to PAS secretary general, Mustapa Ali's stand that no talks on the unity government will take place unless Pakatan allies, DAP and PKR are involved.

He reiterated that the DAP is prepared to talk to anyone on issues concerning national interest but the Pakatan - BN talks are not o the cards.

"It will be more fruitful to discuss the multiplying and spiralling problems in the country."