Stay out of politics, Nik Aziz tells Perak mufti
KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — PAS leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today told Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria to stay out of politics, slamming the Perak mufti for saying PAS had strayed from Islam.
Nik Aziz (picture) said that from Harussani’s remark, the latter had clearly not read through the party’s history, particularly the purpose of its formation.
“When you want to evaluate the policies and struggle of an Islamist party like PAS, you would need to read its history.
“Clearly, this mufti has not read his history,” the PAS spiritual leader wrote in a Facebook posting today.
Nik Aziz pointed out that the basis of PAS’s formation was to struggle for Islam and even Umno leaders had been a part of the party then, particularly those who felt that Umno was unable to fight for Islam.
“I’d like to say that the mufti does not need to participate in politics if he is opposed to PAS,” he said.
The Kelantan mentri besar was commenting on Harussani’s statement in Berita Harian today where he accused PAS of straying from its Islamic path and misusing the faith for political gain.
The scholar’s view comes on the back of a suggestion by Malay rights leader Datuk Ibrahim Ali that the National Fatwa Council hold a meeting to rethink allowing PAS or Parti Islam SeMalaysia use the word “Islam” in its name.
This suggestion was made after PAS leaders appeared to disagree with the council’s fatwa ruling on rallies like the Bersih 3.0 event on April 28.
Niz Aziz told Harussani to read the writings of Islamic scholar Dr Yusof Al-Qardawi, who had purportedly spoken in favour of the Arab uprising and the gatherings in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, which had led to the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak’s rule. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had called the Bersih 3.0 rally an attempt to overthrow the government, triggering Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders to slam the leader for drawing comparisons between the rally for free and fair elections and gatherings at Tahrir Square.
