KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has come out in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as opposition leader despite the resignation of three Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members of parliament recently.

"The three parties that form Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will continue to give full support to Anwar," PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali told a Press conference here today.

He said the government and Dewan Rakyat Speaker had no right to decide the opposition leader as it was determined by opposition members.

PETALING JAYA: If there is evidence of members breaching party principles, Pas will take action against them, says its vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

He said the party did not act at its whims and fancies when executing disciplinary action against its members.

“Complaints against members must be supported with evidence,” he told The Malay Mail.

PENANG: The youth wings of the opposition alliance in Penang have invited Umno Youth and the Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to participate in a debate on March 7.

State DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) head Yeoh Soon Hin said today the debate, themed "The Penang Malay Issue: Between Provocation and Truth", would be held at the Seberang Jaya Expo site.

The opposition alliance would be represented by the Keadilan, DAP and PAS Youth at the debate to be chaired by an independent moderator.

KUCHING: PAS is ready for talks with Umno on matters in which they could cooperate, including issues involving national security, economy, religion and politics, said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

He said this had been continuously practiced by the party, whereby its leaders brought up their views and stand on an issue.

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has to make up its mind first before offering to hold talks with Umno on any issue, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib who is also Umno president said this was necessary as experience showed that PAS had been inconsistent in its stand.

"I don't know what to say as his (PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) stand changes like the weather. Sometimes he agrees, sometimes he disagrees and sometimes it is closed. So, I don't know his real stand.

SHAH ALAM: Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad said his objective has been met despite being suspended as Shah Alam PAS division chief and central political bureau member.

"Selangor PAS commissioner (Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed  Ali) whom I openly opposed was also found guilty and warned not to make statements against PR (Pakatan Rakyat)," he said in his blog  www.khalidsamad.com today.

He said as such, Dr Hasan could no longer act as if his action had support of the party leadership.

SHAH ALAM: The PAS disciplinary committee today suspended Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad from all party posts for six months effective yesterday.

However, Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali was issued with a warning.

Khalid, who is PAS Shah Alam division head and central political bureau member, and Dr Hasan, were found guilty by the disciplinary committee at a meeting  today, according to a report in Harakahdaily.

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz yesterday ridiculed PAS for its surprise decision on Monday to back the use of 'allah' by Catholic publication, Herald.

"PAS is only a political party, I don't believe that PAS 'is' Islam, if you get what I mean," he said.

Full story in the free print edition today.

PETALING JAYA: Pas is disappointed with the High Court's decision to allow the Herald to use the the word Allah in its Catholic weekly publication but its leaders have urged Muslims to remain calm and to allow the legal process to take its course.

Its vice-president, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, said: "Muslims should bear in mind that the Dec 30 court ruling is not final."

READ THE MALAY MAIL THIS AFTERNOON FOR MORE DETAILS.

PETALING JAYA: Pas is not going to whip up a storm if transsexual Mohammed Fazdil Min Bahari — who has since changed his sex — returns to Malaysia.

Its Youth secretary, Kamaruzzaman Mohamad, said there was nothing to shout about if Mohammed Fazdil, now known as Fatine, wanted to do so.

"Under the law, Mohammed Fazdil has all the right to return home if he is still a Malaysian," he said, adding Pas would not go to the airport to protest Fatine's return.