Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali today confirmed that he will not contest in the coming general election and took PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat to task.

The veteran politician was widely tipped to contest for the Kota Bharu parliamentary seat located in Kelantan - where the PAS leader is menteri besar.

"I am staying out of the general election this time, and the Keadilan political bureau accepted my decision at a meeting last night," Syed Husin told reporters in Petaling Jaya.

"It was not my personal wish to contest in Kota Bharu. If I had my wish, I would not participate in the election," he said.

Socialist leanings

His announcement came barely 24 hours after Nik Aziz publicly opposed the candidacy on the grounds that Syed Husin's background was unsuitable.

"He (Nik Aziz) opposed my candidacy based on claims that I come from a socialist and un-Islamic background," said the Keadilan leader, adding that the remarks could be considered libelous.

"I don't feel compelled to explain my religious background. I only wish to say that it is Allah the Almighty, and not men in power, who will ultimately determine whether or not I'm a good Muslim and pious believer," he stressed.

Prior to being appointed Keadilan deputy president last year, Syed Husin headed Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) which later merged with Keadilan. PRM had been constantly accused of subscribing to a socialist ideology.

Syed Husin blamed the continuing government propaganda against him, which saw him detained for six years under the Internal Security Act during the 1970s, for the unfortunate turn of events.

He said Umno leaders and the police were responsible for spreading rumours about him being a socialist.

"I'm surprised that Nik Aziz actually used that point as an excuse to reject me. I feel insulted and deeply disappointed," said the 69-year-old veteran politician.

He added that the PAS leader was well-respected in Kelantan and wielded great influence in the eastern state.

"I'm not sure of getting the necessary support if I go ahead in Kota Bharu," he said.

Disrespecting BA

Syed Husin said the PAS leader had also defied the Barisan Alternatif (BA) leadership's decision despite the mutual understanding among the partners on seat allocation and candidacy.

PAS and Keadilan are members of the opposition front formed prior to the 1999 general election.

"I was in Kota Baru a few days ago to meet the local leaders and party members. I also called on Tok Guru (a religious title) Nik Aziz, who had spoken about his concern over my candidacy.

"But I was officially told that in a subsequent meeting attended by six PAS leaders, including Nik Aziz, PAS was prepared to accept any candidate fielded by Keadilan with a guaranteed 100 percent support," he said.

He also said the PAS leader's remark disrespected the BA leadership and violated Keadilan's right to select its own candidates.

Keadilan-PAS ties

Asked if he was considering other seats, Syed Husin said all seats have already been allocated to the respective candidates.

"I do not wish to upset the balance because it will have a chain reaction, especially when candidates have already begun campaigning and putting up posters," he added.

Several seats, including Permatang Pauh (Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as incumbent) were offered during last night's meeting but he declined.

"My withdrawal is more a matter of principle," he said. He also refused to reveal how many posters of him were printed prior to the official announcement today.

He also said this development had set a bad precedent for the opposition.

Syed Husin said Keadilan will name his replacement but "it will certainly not be Nik Aziz's preferred choice".

"We will not bow to such pressure... that is why I withdrew, to avoid a bigger conflict within the BA," he added.

He also did not discount the fact that there would be changes in Keadilan's post-election relationship with PAS.

"There may be problems among members but we will take steps to overcome it because our objective is for the opposition to win."

In the last general election, Syed Husin contested in Selangor's Petaling Jaya Selatan where he lost to BN candidate Donald Lim.

Syed Husin had obtained 20,736 votes, as opposed to Lim's 24,581, while independent candidate S Selvanathan received 457 votes.

Whereas the Kota Bharu seat was won by Keadilan's Ramli Ibrahim by a whopping 10,206 votes to defeat BN's Ilani Ishak, making it a safe seat for the opposition.