News broke this week that the influential Islamic thinker was likely to lead a group of ulama into the Barisan Nasional (BN) Malay party.
PAS MP for Titiwangsa Dr Lo’lo’ Ghazali even posted a short prayer on her Twitter page asking Asri not to join Umno.
“Oh Allah the most powerful, keep Asri and the 100 ulamas away from Umno who support gambling and did not impose any limit on alcohol sale, who has been arresting ustaz and ulama,” said Dr Lo’lo’.
The Malaysian Insider understands that another PAS lawmaker had also called Asri yesterday but the young ulama did not give a firm reply when asked if he was joining Umno.
Umno is hoping to score a major political coup in enticing Asri into the Malay party.
The courtship of Asri suggests Umno hopes to ride on the respected Islamic scholar’s influence among both liberal and conservative Muslims and unite Malay voters behind the BN party.
On Sunday, Umno executive secretary Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh confirmed to The Malaysian Insider that Asri was expected to join Umno this Friday along with a number of other ulama in what would be a major coup for BN.
Ab Rauf was also quoted by Umno Online as saying Asri’s entry would boost the confidence of Malays in Umno.
But Asri did not confirm the reports.
Among significant politicians urging Asri against joining Umno is Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin.
“I have repeated my stand to my friend Dr Asri for him not to join any political party whether Umno or PAS,” said Zulkifli who was sacked from PKR for his views on Islam that differed from the party leadership.
“I suggested to him to remain as an independent ulama not tied to party politics as I have seen many religious scholars who have lost to party ideology,” he said on his blog.
A friend of Asri told The Malaysian Insider the former USM lecturer had also been told by many associates to remain politically neutral.
“I can say about 90 per cent of those who contacted Asri did not want him to join Umno or any political party. They want him to remain free and independent like now so he can continue giving his critical views,” said the scholar’s friend who spoke anonymously.
Meanwhile an Umno insider said negotiations were still ongoing between Asri and the party’s leadership.
“It will be solved within a day or two,” said the source.
The negotiation was to sort out the role to be played by Asri in Umno.
Pro-Umno websites have welcomed the reports on Asri’s intention to join the Malay nationalist party as it would be seen as a major blow to PAS and their partners in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
“The reason is clear, they (the ulamas) have rejected PAS because of disappointment with the spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat,” said a pro-Umno website — Malaysia-Instinct — in support of Asri’s membership in Umno.
Asri is expected to hand over his application form to join Umno to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after the party’s supreme council meeting on Friday.
Asri, however, refused to confirm the matter, saying that he had not made a final decision yet.