KOTA BARU, Kelantan - A high-level conspiracy is brewing among progressive leaders of Malaysia's resurgent Islamic party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), who are seen to have been dealt a setback in recent party polls.

Top "Erdogans", as they are called - led by the party's revered spiritual leader, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat - met in Kuala Lumpur to plot how to foil efforts by conservative PAS leaders to form a unity government with Umno, which leads the central government.

The secret meeting was attended by almost all the leaders who lost in the party elections last week, including Datuk Husam Musa - the defeated deputy-presidential candidate and Nik Aziz protege - as well as former secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar.

Discussions centred on countering the conservatives' hopes of forging closer ties with Umno.

"A definite plan is necessary to formulate ways to derail the unity talks subtly. Nik Aziz is very disappointed with the efforts to revive the talks. He is also disappointed that almost all of Kelantan's representatives in the party's top posts lost," a party source familiar with the meeting said.

But overt signs of a party split over the unity talks would not augur well for preparations for the Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan next month.

"The trick is to do it subtly without raising any eyebrows. Otherwise, it will mean that Nik Aziz cannot accept the loss of the Kelantan PAS candidates," the source said.

A concrete plan of action is expected to emerge soon.