KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Conversations with several PAS leaders on the leadership crisis affecting the party indicated that the issue is anything but resolved.

While some view the matter as no longer an issue as it has been left to the party's disciplinary committee to resolve, others feel that it should be discussed and that the best platform to do so will be at the party's political seminar scheduled for Saturday.

There are also those who feel that an extraordinary "muktamar" or general meeting (EGM) will be the best way forward to resolve the impasse should the disciplinary committee and the one-day seminar fail to break the deadlock.

Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad said the option to hold the EGM is open for consideration by party members as the matter is allowed for under the constitution.

"It is an extraordinary move but if that can provide the solution, or if the solution sought through the seminar or the disciplinary committee is not forthcoming, then I think party members have the option to call for an EGM," he told Bernama here.

Ironically, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub stressed that the seminar was to replace the EGM.

The seminar, however, would not discuss the leadership crisis in the party as the purpose was to get the views of members and two political observers on steps PAS should take to strengthen its role in the opposition pact, Salahuddin said.

The two political observers invited to share their views are Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari of the International Islamic University Malaysia and Prof Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah of the University of Malaya.

"This (leadership crisis) does not arise anymore; we consider it settled. We leave the issue regarding (Selangor PAS commissioner) (Datuk) Dr Hassan Ali to the party's disciplinary committee to investigate," Salahuddin said.

Another vice-president, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, concurred with Salahuddin's statement, saying the leadership issue would be thrashed out by the party's disciplinary committee.

But Mahfuz appears to be sidestepping the issue when asked about the fact that other leaders described by a political observer as "problematic leaders" have not been referred to the disciplinary committee.

"How would you know? Are you the disciplinary committee?" asked Mahfuz.

The party's central committee, at its meeting on Oct 28 which was also attended by spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, had instructed the party's disciplinary committee to investigate the Selangor PAS leadership on grounds that they made decisions contrary to the spirit of consensus of the opposition pact.

However, several names like president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, who were mentioned by Prof Abdul Aziz Bari as "problematic leaders" and prompted Nik Abdul Aziz to call for an EGM to rid the party of them, are not subjected to any investigation.

Attention is focused instead on Hassan and Selangor PAS leaders who are said to have acted contrary to the interest of the opposition pact in the state. (By NOOR HAYATI MUDA/Bernama)