Nik Aziz: Not wrong to pray for Umno’s downfall

PAS spiritual leader says such a prayer was allowed for by Islam because PAS deemed that Umno had been belitting Islam all this while.

KOTA BAHARU: PAS’ call to its members to pray for the downfall of Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) has received the backing of the party’s spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat himself.

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, said such a call was allowed for by Islam because the party deemed that Umno had been belitting Islam all this while.

“Not wrong (to call for the prayer). Umno has already rejected Islam, so how can it return to the fold,” he told reporters at the end of PAS’ 58th Muktamar (Annual Congress) here today.

He was commenting on the “sembahyang hajat” (special prayers) held by the party in conjunction with the muktamar at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here on Friday which sought Umno’s and the Barisan Nasional’s downfall .

The prayers were also for the opposition pact of PAS, PKR and DAP to make it to Putrajaya come the next general election.

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, when asked about  the same matter, said the prayers could be recited when one felt oppressed.

Asked why no prayers were recited for Muslims in Palestine and Syria who were oppressed and also the Rohingya in Myanmar, he said this was often done at other religious functions  including the Friday prayers.

- Bernama