PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has denied a Bernama report that he had urged former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa to quit the party after the latter questioned PAS' stance on hudud.

nasharuddin mat isa pas muktamar in kota bharu “I never issued any statement urging anyone to quit the party, as reported by certain portals.

“The question of quitting the party is up to that individual or PAS central,” he said in his Facebook posting this morning.

Yesterday the national news agency quoted the Kelantan menteri besar as saying that it is better for Nasharudin (above) to leave PAS rather than to create problems for the party.

Nik Aziz clarified that he only said that he would not be surprised if any leader decided to quit the party.

“In the controversy that involves a PAS leader who is said have been together with a Umno leader in Mecca, I don't want to make any statement.

“For me, my stance is clear and all quarters have understood it,” he said.

NONE According to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia , TV3 's Buletin Utama on Tuesday aired an interview with Nasharudin in Mecca, in which he demanded that PAS withdraw from Pakatan Rakyat because of coalition partner DAP’s rejection of hudud implementation in Malaysia.

In their front page article the Umno-owned Utusan also published a photograph showing Nasharudin together with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Mecca.

The PM was attending an extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation there, and had met several religious scholars from Saudi Arabia during his visit.

'Nasha contradicts himself'

Meanwhile PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Nasharudin needs to give a “thorough explanation” on the latter's statements reported on TV3 .

NONE “Seeing that he is still a member of the syura council, I urge Nasharudin to take the initiative to contact the council as soon as possible to give his explanation.

"He should come forward... with immediate effect,” said Tuan Ibrahim ( right ) in a statement today.

He said Nasharudin has contradicted what the latter had said in the last muktamar, that the party’s relationship with DAP and PKR in relation to the hudud issue had been discussed in depth with the ulama.

“It wasn’t a decision made at the coffee shop or in the streets,” he quipped.

He said if Nasharudin failed to take the initiative to clarify his position, “hence PAS central committee together with the syura council will discuss the next course of action in the upcoming meeting,” he said.