Pro-opposition newsportal spin sent Nik Aziz reeling

By Firdaus Azil Friday, August 17, 2012

By Firdaus Azil

MalaysiaKini's misleading heading has created more confusion (Inset: The good relationship between Nasharudin and Umno leaders has made Pas suspicious of him)

KUALA LUMPUR: A pro-opposition blogger has criticised the pro-opposition newsportal MalaysiaKini for giving a misleading title to a Bernama news report, putting Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat in spot.

Blogger Ameno World said MalaysiaKini's heading had made it looked as if Nik Aziz was trying to put pressure on former Pas deputy president Datuk Nasharudin Mat Isa to quit the party.

The title "Tak Hairan Jika Nasharudin Keluar Pas, Kata Nik Aziz" (It's Will Not Be Surprising if Nasharudin Quits Pas, Says Nik Aziz) was Bernama's original title for the news and the heading was changed by MalaysiaKini to "Nik Aziz: Lebih Baik Nasha Keluar Pas" (Nik Aziz: It’s better for Nasha to leave Pas).

A day after MalaysiaKini published the news, Nik Aziz, in his official Facebook page, clarified that he did not ask Nasharudin to quit Pas (as implied by the MalaysiaKini heading).

“Bismillah, I have never made a statement urging anybody to quit the party as reported by some news portals. The decision to quit is in the hand of the person or the party’s central committee.

“What I actually said was, I will not be surprised if any leader decides to leave the party,” Nik Aziz said.

Of late, Nasharudin, who is MP for Bachok, has been urged by his own party colleagues to quit Pas after he photographed with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak when he was in Saudi Arabia recently.

The photograph has given much ammunition to his detractors in Pas who had been gunning for him ever since he was portrayed as supposing the concept of unity government between Umno and Pas.