Nik Aziz explains misconstrued speech

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today denied having said Umno members would not go to heaven.

The Kelantan Menteri Besar also denied saying yesterday that they could not go to heaven as they practised a form of “false Islam” brought from Palestine and not the Islam as preached by PAS.

He claimed the misquoted statements were an attempt by certain quarters to cause friction between him and the Palestine authority and create a new issue in the run-up to the upcoming Permatang Pasir by-election. “I read two mainstream newspapers where I saw the word, Palestine. I strongly deny this (mentioning Palestine). I also don’t always use the words, Umno members and Umno supporters,” he told reporters, here, today.

Nik Aziz was reported to have made the statement in Bukit Mertajam yesterday in which he was also quoted saying that the Islam preached by PAS was different from that practised by Umno members.

He explained that what he meant was that Muslims who separated “iman” (faith) from Islam would not go to heaven. “The two are inseparable, just like the body and soul. They must be together or one. “What I’m saying here is not new. It (separation of faith from Islam) had caused the ulama to leave Umno and form PAS in 1951.

“Umno’s efforts for Islam alone without ‘iman’ will not be accepted by Allah,” he said. Nik Aziz said he would discuss with his lawyers to see what action could be taken against the media over their controversial reports on his statement.

On Perak Mufti Datuk Harussani Zakaria hitting out at his statement, he said the mufti should have checked with him before making his comment, as reports from the mainstream media could confuse people. — Bernama