Mat Sabu's claim of PAS and IS a desperate move to save political career - Nik Abduh

The allegation by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu as PAS being infiltrated by the Islamic State (IS) militant ideology has been described as a desperate move to save his ebbing political career.

PAS national Youth chief, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, said Mohamad or Mat Sabu had no more political capital to bring down PAS since he left the Islamist party to form Amanah, that he had resorted to making the preposterous claim.

"After the (PAS-Amanah) crisis, everyone know that PAS has stuck to its policy, and this offshoot party (Amanah) is forced to find a claim, which is easy to be rejected not just by PAS but by the public too.

"If he (Mat Sabu) wants to prove it, go ahead, but I am confident he won't be able to," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby, here, today.

Nik Abduh was asked to comment on Mat Sabu's claim of the infiltration of IS religious extremism in PAS which gave rise to the takfiri culture (calling other Muslims with differing views from PAS' infidels) and the formation of Amanah.

He said PAS had never supported the struggle of former Kedah PAS information chief, Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, who joined the IS in Syria and was killed in a firefight there.

"We did not know about his going to Syria. We reject the idea of Malaysians going there to fight as it is not PAS' policy, but we prayed for his soul.

"This is normal, when someone from UMNO dies, we pray for him. Likewise, when someone from PAS dies, UMNO members will pray for him, it's for the deceased. We pray for fellow Muslims to be accepted by Allah," he said.

When asked on Mat Sabu's allegation, former PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said he had never heard of PAS members being involved in IS militancy.

"This is new and the accuser (Mat Sabu) and police need to prove whether the allegation is true or not," he said.