Ustaz Kazim: "I have not made decision on UMNO MT appointment"

He said before he could make the decision, he needed to convene a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to find out what roles he would play in Umno, besides giving fair consideration to his duties as a missionary.

"I need an assurance that I will not be prevented from discharging my duties as a missionary if I join Umno.

"I want to know whether my hands will be tied or whether I will get a gag order prohibiting me from voicing out my opinions. If I can get that assurance, then I'm ready to cooperate," he told reporters before delivering a ceramah at Seri Semarak People's Housing Project (PPR) flats here on Saturday.

He said he also hoped the meeting with Najib, who is Umno president, could be convened soon.

Prior to this, Mohamad Kazim said he received a telephone call from Najib informing him of his proposed position in Umno leadership line-up and to help strengthen the Islamic faith among members of the party and Muslims in the country as a whole.

He said Najib's openness in inviting him to join Umno leadership line up proved that the prime minister was serious in making transformation and expanding the role of a missionary in the party.

"I view this as an approach to unite Muslims. I hope all quarters will also look at this as a good thing. Look at it as an effort to put religion first," he said.

Mohamad Kazim, who was once a PAS member, also expressed his disappointment over the fact that PAS had never asked him to join them in discharging the missionary duties.