January 01, 2008   
KOTA BAHARU, Jan 1 (Bernama) — The opposition parties, including PAS, are prepared to stay away from the general election if they could reach a consensus on the matter, said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“If the opposition parties decide (to boycott it), I’ll follow them, but personally, I feel that I should contest (the election),” he told reporters here today.
Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman had said that the opposition parties should stay away from the general election if they doubt that it would be fair and transparent.
He said the opposition would not be trapped by Abdul Rashid’s remarks and that if they chose not to contest, they would lose on moral grounds.
PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said the EC chairman’s challenge showed that the commission had deviated from its role of conducting the general election as an independent body.