THE cracks in Pas seem unpatchable with the fundamentalists barring all views against or on the unity government issue.

The latest move was the barring of an article by party central committee member Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad in the party's official publication Harakah.

The article was Dr Dzulkifli's thoughts on why the unity government would not work, stating that it would benefit Umno more than Pas.

The Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament was one of the few liberals who managed to win in the party election a month ago that saw a fierce battle between the liberals and the fundamentalists to control the party.

The rest, including leader of the pack Datuk Husam Musa, were thrashed. This led Kelantan party supremo Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to lash out at party deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa over the unity government issue.

Nasharuddin retained his deputy president seat against an onslaught by Husam and another vice-president Mohamad Sabu.

Kelantan Pas said it would bar Terengganu Pas and those supporting the unity government proposal from
the Manik Urai State byelection. But two weeks ago, the Pas leadership got Nasharuddin and Nik Aziz to patch things up between them.

The onslaught by the liberals to take charge of the party at last month's party election failed. But it has produced a series of "retaliations" from the fundamentalists.

Led by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and aided by long-time ally Datuk Mustapa Ali, the fundamentalists are tightening their hold on the party.

Mustapa, who is the party secretary-general, had announced that the unity government issue was closed and should not be raised again.

And the latest action, believed to be his act as chairman of Harakah, was not well received by members and supporters of the liberals.

Whether the move was with good intentions or not, party members among the liberal group are interpreting it differently.

As far as they are concerned, the fundamentalists are tightening their hold on the well-read Harakah to check the liberals from moving forward or gaining support.

Dr Dzulkifli, who is said to be a close ally of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is said to be the man behind the liberals' move to outwit the fundamentalists.

Husam was put in the forefront given his "admirable leadership attitude" among party members but he is not exactly the brains of the group. A party member said: "It's a battle between having a leadership influenced by
Anwar playing second fiddle in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance or having an affair with Umno, which is seeking
love.

"Either way, the party may end up playing second fiddle but Abdul Hadi probably feels safer and more comfortable with Umno," he said. He said recent events, including the DAP wanting out of the Kedah Pas-led
government, was evidence of the non-compromising stand by Pas' partners in PR.

He said the party needed better understanding as it had already put aside its Islamic State policy to accommodate the "relationship".

"For a relationship to work, there must be compromise but that seems quite difficult now as each party wants its own way," he said. But what matters now, according to the party member, is the factions in Pas must patch up fast before it  becomes disastrous.

This of course will not happen but one never knows given the volatile political atmosphere right now. "Parties in PR are facing problems despite the leaders saying no and smiling for media photographers while Umno and Barisan Nasional are driving wedges in between the cracks," he added.