KUALA LUMPUR -- PAS should reject Anwar Ibrahim's leadership for his stance on Israel which clearly goes against its principle on the Palestinian people's struggle, said former Penang deputy chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.
The Penanti assemblyman commented that Anwar's statement about his support for Israel's efforts to protect itself showed the marked differences in principles between PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), of which Anwar is the de facto leader.
"PAS should make a firm stand and reject Anwar's leadership and Pakatan Rakyat. Unfortunately, we hear some PAS leaders saying there should be differing views within Pakatan Rakyat," he told Bernama yesterday.
On Tuesday, Anwar, who is also Permatang Pauh member of parliament, had said Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had understood his explanation about his statement on Israel to The Wall Street Journal.
On Wednesday, however, in a statement posted on the PAS' website, Nik Aziz had reiterated that the party would never recognise "the forbidden state of Israel".
"We leave it to (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim to accept this stand of PAS," he had said.
When contacted yesterday, Perkasa Malaysia president Ibrahim Ali described Anwar as having managed to 'fool' the menteri besar on the issue.
Meanwhile, in George Town, Universiti Sains Malaysia senior political science lecturer Prof P.Siva Murugan was of the opinion that their differing stance on the Israel issue signified cracks in the relationship between PAS and Anwar.
According to him, staunch PAS members would no longer support Anwar as Israel was a sensitive issue for the Muslims.
