Reprimand Pakatan leaders for sensitive remarks on Islam, DPM urges Nik Aziz

(The Star) – PAS is trying hard to show solidarity with its allies in Pakatan Rakyat but it is really strange when its spiritual adviser shrugs off sensitive statements made by the coalition leaders on Islam, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is also Kelantan Mentri Besar, should be brave to criticise the Pakatan leaders befitting his ulama standing and champion of his party’s struggle for Islam.

“Instead, he chose to remain silent every time controversial or sensitive remarks on Islam are made by his fellow Pakatan leaders.

“Nik Aziz should advise them against making statements that are in contradiction to Islamic beliefs,” Muhyiddin told reporters at a village gathering at the Mara Skills Institute at Lubok Jong here yesterday.

Present were Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad and his deputy Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin.

“As an ulama, one must right what is wrong. The same goes for the sensitive remarks uttered by other Pakatan leaders, like (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng and (DAP national chairman) Karpal Singh.

“The latest is the controversial remarks on the Muslims’ faith by (PKR vice-president) Nurul Izzah Anwar,” he said.

“In the end, all this is done for political exigency and nothing else,” added Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president.

Asked about Kelantan, he said the people should judge whether it has a responsible government able to bring socio-economic welfare and development to the state.

Muhyiddin said there had been empty promises and little effort to help the poor or to improve the living standards of the lower-income groups.