Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today said he was “moved” that Rasah MP Anthony Loke had fiercely defended him in Parliament on Monday.

In an official letter of thanks to the DAP parliamentarian sent through Kelantan Menteri Besar’s political secretary Wan Nik Wan Yussof, the MB fondly known as Tok Guru called Loke’s actions “courageous”.

“I am pleased to refer to the matter concerning the argument in Parliament on October 22 related to the issue of MCA leaders insulting the Tok Guru.

“Tok Guru Nik Aziz is very moved and wishes to record his congratulations and gratitude towards your courageous actions,” read the letter, posted on Loke’s Facebook today.

The PAS spiritual leader also took a shot at party rival Umno for failing to defend Islam against MCA’s attacks during the Monday sitting.

“DAP dares to slam MCA, but Umno is afraid. We cannot rely on Umno to protect Islam, even protecting the Malay they haven’t gotten anywhere,” Yusoff quoted Nik Aziz as saying in the letter.

NONE Loke ( left ) had blasted MCA parliamentarians for suggesting that Nik Aziz had in a video called on Muslims to rape non-Muslims.

“What was said by (MCA president) Chua Soi Lek, that he agreed with senator Heng (Seai Kie) about Tok Guru (Nik Aziz), as if PAS encouraged Muslims to rape non-Muslim women... this statement is the most biadap (insolent) statement.

“Chua Soi Lek is the most biadap president of MCA,” Loke said in Parliament, after which the speaker turned off the MP’s microphone.

‘I am most moved and feel humbled’

The Rasah MP in response to the Kelantan MB’s letter wrote on his Facebook, “I am most moved and feel humbled to receive the letter of appreciation from the MB’s Office...

“The letter once again proves his generosity and restraint despite being the MB for 22 years.”

“I feel dwarfed when facing a religious and political figure with such a soul and heart as big as Tok Guru Nik Aziz,” he added.

Heng had during MCA’s AGM last week claimed that in a 2008 video of a speech by Nik Aziz the latter had encouraged Muslims to rape non-Muslim women as the latter were not required to cover their aurat.

Chua, who had been on an anti-hudud crusade in the run-up to the AGM, subsequently defended Heng’s statement.

However, in the video posted on YouTube , the PAS spiritual leader does not specifically mention non-Muslims, and those defending the MB claim that critics have taken his words out of context to contrive that he was encouraging immodestly dressed women to be raped.