By JOCELINE TAN

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - The man who caused the political storm now blowing through PAS is not Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat but a law professor from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) who calls himself 'a small-time academic'.

Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari , who lectures constitutional law, said he was shocked but did not regret that his views on PAS politics had caused a party crisis with Nik Aziz asking president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang to resign.

Dr Abdul Aziz's views, which were published in the Malay daily Sinar Harian, were used by Nik Aziz as grounds that PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang was a weak and indecisive leader who had not provided direction for the party and did not dare to act against leaders who were detrimental to the party's cause.

The PAS spiritual adviser had also agreed with Dr Abdul Aziz that Hadi should go.

The academic also named deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali and Selangor chief Datuk Dr Hasan Ali as 'problematic leaders' who entertained ties with Umno.

Nik Aziz subsequently called for an EGM to settle these issues.

When contacted yesterday, Dr Abdul Aziz said the controversy would be good for PAS. 'I have always supported the idea of a two-party system in this country and you need parties like PAS to be strong to make it happen,' he said.

'My main aim is to make the system stronger so that one day the Constitution will be held high up.' Interestingly, the UIA don has been invited as a key speaker at the PAS political seminar that is being held on Saturday to address the concerns raised by Nik Aziz. Dr Abdul Aziz said he stood by what he said about Hadi having to go.

'He flip-flops on decisions and has been unable to translate the slogan that 'PAS is for all'.

The icon of PAS now is Nik Aziz and not Hadi,' he said.