Mahathir makes unique pact with political opponents<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad has made an unprecedented business pact with opposition
\nMoslem fundamentalists, an overture that may lead to political
\ncooperation as well, officials said at the weekend.<\/p>\n
Mahathir and Nik Aziz Nik Mat, head of the ruling Parti Islam
\nse-Malaysia (PAS) in northeastern Kelantan state, on Friday
\nwitnessed the signing of a petrochemical deal between a company
\ncontrolled by Mahathir's party and a Kelantan oil firm.<\/p>\n
It was a rare show of unity between bitter political rivals in
\nMalaysia's only opposition-ruled state.<\/p>\n
\"We may be political enemies, but it doesn't mean we can't be
\nbusiness partners,\" Mahathir said at the signing ceremony in Kota
\nBaru, Kelantan's capital.<\/p>\n
The prime minister and his allies held their first ever
\ndialogue with Nik Aziz and PAS leaders after the signing.<\/p>\n
Government and corporate figures aligned to the prime
\nminister's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) said after
\nthe talks that Mahathir may even extend the cooperation to
\npolitics, if the fundamentalist PAS toned down its \"extremism\".<\/p>\n
\"I think the time has come...the PM is willing to work with
\nPAS and Nik Aziz is singing praises of him,\" said Hassan Harun,
\nchairman of KUB Malaysia Bhd, the UMNO-controlled cooperative
\nthat signed the petrochemical deal with Kelantan.<\/p>\n
Nik Aziz, an Islamic preacher who has ruled Kelantan since
\n1990, surprised political analysts last week when he described
\nMahathir in a television interview as \"an exemplary leader of the
\nMoslem world\", and called on Kelantan people to turn out in full
\nforce to welcome him.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in Kota Baru after Mahathir's arrival,
\nNik Aziz added: \"The rivalry between the two parties had, at
\ntimes, gone overboard.\"<\/p>\n
\"The situation would be less tense if there was more
\ncooperation. While we differ politically, we should not become
\nextremists,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since coming to power in highly conservative Kelantan, the PAS
\nhas proposed Islamic punishment for criminals that calls for
\nstoning of adulterers and amputation of limbs for thieves.<\/p>\n
The party has banned liquor, gambling, lipstick and unisex
\nhair salons. It requires separate check-out lines for men and
\nwomen at supermarkets and has all but banned night-time
\nentertainment outlets.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said he was open to bringing PAS into the government.<\/p>\n
\"Nothing is impossible in politics. Most of the people in our
\ngovernment used to be our enemies once.\"<\/p>\n
Mahathir said the fate of PAS, which has gone no further than
\nconquering Kelantan in 40 years, was in its own hands.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to be friendly with us, we are friendly. If they
\nwant to be enemies with us, then we become enemies. If they want
\nto shoot us, we shoot back,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about a political deal with Mahathir, Nik Aziz said: \"At
\nthe moment the mood is happy...I would like to take some time
\nbefore I comment further.\"<\/p>",
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