Nik Aziz urged to retract statement

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has been urged to retract his remark that prayers by Muslims in Umno would not earn divine merits.

Kota Baharu Umno division chief Datuk Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh said as a leader who was held in high regard, Nik Aziz should not make a ludicrous statement that could bring destruction to Muslims.

"He should not pass remarks like an illiterate or unknowledgeable man for many people are listening and observing to what he said," Mohamad Fatmi said after launching a friendship event attended by about 400 Islamic studies, j-Qaf and Kafa teachers in the Kota Baharu parliamentary constituency here, today.

He was responding to the latest remark by Nik Aziz, who was quoted as saying that Umno members were not blessed with merits from God when they performed prayers as their party had rejected Islamic principles as the basis of its political ideology.

Mohamad Fatmi said the Pas spiritual leader perceived Umno as if it was ignorant on Islam despite its effort to uphold the religion and developed religious education from the pre-school to the university levels over the years.

"PAS leaders should stop making outlandish remarks that can cause anger and hatred among Muslims," he added.