KUALA LUMPUR: PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa dismissed rumours that he had secret meetings with Umno deputy president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to discuss possible collaboration between the two parties.

He said media reports about his alleged meetings with Najib in London were “irresponsible, unethical and defamatory”.

Nasharuddin said he was in London to attend a seminar on governance, which was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

“I was there as a Malaysian representative. There was no meeting with the deputy prime minister in London or elsewhere,” he said in parliament lobby yesterday.

Nasharuddin also read a statement from PAS president Datuk Seri Abd Hadi Awang that the party had never held talks on collaboration with Umno.

“We know that the allegations were to create anxiety among Pakatan Rakyat leaders and to stir up anger among its supporters,” he said.

“PAS is aware why BN and Umno would use this tactic (to divide us). This is because they are facing internal leadership crises as well as people’s dissatisfaction over the fuel price hike.”

Abd Hadi said the party was committed to strengthening Pakatan Rakyat and its administration in the five states of Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Selangor.

“PAS together with the Pakatan Rakyat leadership will continue to uphold the interest of the people which has been sidelined by BN’s policies,” he said.

Najib declined to comment on rumours about the secret meetings. “I don’t need to answer any question (on this),” he said.