PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has liken those claiming to be ulamas, but brought on purely for the purpose of contesting in the coming general election, as nothing more than “knock-off watches”.

He was commenting on Umno and BN, both of which have been said to be looking at ulamas or Islamic scholars to appoint as their candidates in order to try and topple the PAS-held Kelantan state.

“They must have seen how people in Kelantan like ulamas, and think that they can use this.”

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"But how can they field Islamic scholars when they themselves reject Islam? Though the case of false ulamas, or those who claim to be ulamas (being used to fight the righteous), is not a new one," said the party spiritual adviser, recounting false ulamas who were active even during the time of Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

He deemed the reported BN strategy of using the so-called ulamas as akin to ordinary taxi drivers wearing expensive-looking Rado-branded watches in Kelantan, all show but not much substance.

"Rado watches can cost (up to) RM60,000 or more. But if you ask him about it, he will say it is a cheap knock-off which he bought for less than RM15 from Golok (across the border in Thailand)."

Nik Aziz believes that such practices - like the knock-off watches - will not work as they are not the real deal, nor will true ulamas cooperate with those that reject Islam in practice like Umno, their campaign rhetoric notwithstanding.

Umno has long set up their own council of ulamas to try and rival PAS in Islamic knowledge, the body often coming up with religious explanations to back up Umno’s actions or policies.

As GE13 draws near, the Umno ulamas and linked organisations have said vocally that they may appoint ustaz and religious personalities as BN candidates, to go toe to toe with PAS religious leaders.

'Umno strong-arming the media and voters'

Meanwhile Nik Aziz, lamented that, despite his years as a menteri besar, he has never been given space on the mainstream television or radio stations, nor given fair coverage during the times when he does make the news.

"When it comes to Nik Aziz, only bad news comes out; when it is good news, nothing (is reported)," he told the audience at the launching of his book, Bicara ini untuk Ilahi (This discourse is for God) in Shah Alam today.

"This is not democracy, this is communism - when it is only their voices (that are broadcast) on the radio, when it is only their faces on TV, although they cannot control what is (circulated) on the Internet."

NONE He labels the media ban on Pakatan Rakyat leaders as an attempt by the "evil" Umno and BN to force-feed the rakyat with their version of events and strong-arm them into voting for the ruling coalition.

"In (democratic) voting, there is no compulsion, people must be allowed to choose. It is pilihanraya (polls), not paksaraya (force-voting)," he reasoned, as the electorate must be given the space, facility and room to make an informed decision when choosing their leaders.

Bicaraini untuk Ilahi , is a compilation of excerpts from his speeches and statements of the last ten years or so, with the theme of being in service to God.

Pakatan Rakyat has long been denied space on mainstream newspapers, as well as radio and television stations, in the state-controlled government media managed by the BN-led government or private ones owned by BN component political parties.

At times, news featuring Pakatan on the mainstream media have been accused of being 'doctored' to paint them the wrong way. This has led to retaliatory banning of some of the mainstream publication by the opposition pact, despite their pledge to fight for media freedom.

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