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Written by Chan Kok Leong, The Edge PAS may have vehemently refused to "talk" about any form of unity with Umno, but the party is more open to a debate instead.
Picking up from a suggestion from spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat last Saturday, PAS Vice President Salahuddin Ayub is all for the idea.
Commenting on the suggestion, Salahuddin said that debates are a healthy way to promote democracy and clear the air over the two parties' stance on matters concerning Islam.
"I’ve debated with Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz before and there is nothing wrong with it," said Salahuddin at the Parliament lobby today.
Although the Kubang Kerian member of Parliament said that Nik Aziz’s suggestion to debate with Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has not been discussed at the PAS central committee level, Salahuddin said he was receptive of the idea.
"Such a debate will also allow mursyidul am (Nik Aziz) to question the prime minister on matters concerning the oil royalties owing to Kelantan," he added.
When asked if such "live" debates would do more harm to Islam, Salahuddin said: "One shouldn’t fear if one is right".
Salahuddin said that Nik Aziz is expected to send his invitation to debate with the prime minister today.
PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, however, declined to comment on the matter.
"I’ve got to discuss this with the mursyidul am first to get a clearer picture of his intentions before I can comment," said the Marang MP during Parliament's lunch break today.
The New Straits Times reported today that two former Umno presidents – Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – were opposed to the idea of a debate between Najib and Nik Aziz.
Mahathir, who had asked PAS to clarify the term Islamic state in 2002, said the Kelantan menteri besar’s proposal was "a waste of time".
"There is no benefit to a debate. The two leaders are from two different camps," he said after officiating the 2009 annual general meeting of Kedah's Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) in Alor Star on Sunday.
"Each leader has different views and would hold strongly to his beliefs, according to his political party."
In Kepala Batas, Abdullah said instead of an adversarial debate, Umno and PAS should hold talks for the sake of Malay and Islamic unity in the country.
"Differences in opinion between the two parties should not reach the point where Umno and PAS fight to finish each other off," Abdullah said after opening the Kepala Batas MCA division's annual general meeting on Sunday.
On Saturday, Nik Aziz had invited Najib to a debate to resolve the prolonged political stand-off between PAS and Umno.
He proposed the debate following a police report by Kelantan Umno Youth, which claimed his ceramah in Kelantan on June 21 was seditious.
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