Nik Aziz excited about Dr M rejoining Umno

PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is excited about the prospect of Dr Mahathir Mohamad rejoining Umno.

He believes that the former premier's return to Umno would benefit the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat.

According to the PAS leader, this is because Mahathir's return would lead to 'chaos' in the party which forms the backbone of the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).

"It will be exciting to see him creating chaos," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Nik Aziz was asked to comment on the statement by Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday that the former prime minister had expressed his wish to rejoin Umno, the party he left after the March 8 general election, citing disappointment with the current leadership.

Nik Aziz also felt that it would be better for Mahathir "to attack Umno from within."

"I'm excited as this will weaken Umno. I don't understand it when he left Umno to attack Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi).

"I don't see the logic of attacking Umno from the outside... now he can confront the party from within," he said.

Racial slur controversy

Asked on the move by Umno to suspend the membership of Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail for his racially sensitive remarks, Nik Aziz said the government, not Umno, should have acted on the matter.

"If it were another person, he would have been taken action under the Internal Security Act. It seems unfair," he said.

On party-hopping, Nik Aziz said it was a dishonourable thing to do and tantamount to betraying the people's trust.

However, he said, in the efforts to form the new government on Sept 16, honour should be put aside in order to free the country of BN, and in particular Umno which he claimed was tainted by corruption.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has set Sept 16 to stage a political coup with the defection of BN MPs.