Harun Din calls for continued dialogue with Umno

Saying it was Umno that knocked on its doors for talks, Pas deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Harun Din called for a continued dialogue with its ideological nemesis as part of the party's missionary work.

Harun said the Pas syura council - its highest decision-making body - had already decided in April that the talks with Umno is in the name of missionary work or dakwah.

"The president told me he was contacted by Umno leaders more than 10 times for the talks but even then Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang rejected them," Harun said while wrapping up the debate at the party's 54th annual muktamar or congress here yesterday.

"It's not us that knocked on the door but Umno that really wanted to meet up. We snubbed them for a while," he said, adding Pas had no personal agenda towards the talks.

The Pas-Umno talks centred on Malay unity and Islamic issues but has been harshly criticised by party grassroots still bent on keeping the Pakatan Rakyat coalition intact after it denied Barisan Nasional its customary two-thirds majority in parliament and took control of a further four states in the March 8 general elections.

The talks also disconcerted Pas allies in the opposition coalition which is increasingly split along ideological lines. The other parties in the coalition are Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) which is opposed to an Islamic state that is part of Pas's constitution.

But Harun said if its enemies lean towards peace then the party should accept it, adding the party cannot do missionary work if no doors were opened.

However, he said the situation became chaotic as there were members who went against the council's decisions when holding the talks with Umno although the party constitution had said it was supreme in making decisions as long as it did not go against Islam.

"It has to be clarified again that the Quran is the guide and basis for Pas from before, now and forever, " Harun said, adding Pas members were mature now and not influenced by the mass media's agenda to blow up the issue.