The PAS syura council has been urged to drop the party's former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa as a council member in order to prevent issues related to his stand from being exploited further.

NONE However, it would be best if Nasharuddin voluntarily resigned from the council so as not drag it further into controversy, former PAS vice-president Ahmad Awang ( right ) said today.

"The council can advise Nasharuddin to relinquish his post. This is the diplomatic way... and it would be would be the best way for PAS if Nasharuddin were to resign voluntarily," Ahmad said.

Ahmad, a former syura council member, said it would be best for the council if Nasharuddin volunteered to withdraw, even though the council had the power to drop a member.

According to him, such a move would prevent the BN from continuing to attack PAS following Nasharuddin's call to the party to withdraw from Pakatan Rakyat over the differences of opinion with DAP on the hudud issue.

Council to meet on Sept 9

The PAS central committee has left it to the council to determine Nasharuddin's fate, since the Bachok MP is no longer in the Islamic party's central committee.

Yesterday, the party's journal Harakahdaily reported syura council secretary Nik Zawawi Nik Salleh as saying the council would discuss Nasharuddin's case among the issues before it, if there was ample time.

Sinar Harian quoted Nik Zawawi as saying the syura council would hold its monthly meet on Sept 9 and Ahmad told Malaysiakini that Nasharuddin should attend the meeting to explain his stance.

"It is the best opportunity for him to explain," Ahmad said, adding that he knew Nasharuddin, a former academician, personally.

However, Ahmad believes party members would not be affected by Nasharuddin's stance as "he does not have any supporters".