Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general Mohd Puad Zakarshi opened fire at Lim Kit Siang for questioning the prime minister's claim that BN's win in the twin by-elections was a divine sign.

Although admitting he was unsure if the DAP parliamentary leader believed in God, Puad said it was apparent none of Lim's own prayers during last Saturday's polls had been answered.

"Worse, (God) humiliated Lim Kit Siang by allowing PAS to gain more votes than Amanah in Kuala Kangsar," he said in a statement yesterday.

Instead, Puad said Allah answered Najib's prayers in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections.

"For a Muslim, prayer is a weapon. Muslims pray to Allah not only in times of hardship but also during good times and victories.

"In this case, Najib prayed for Allah to grant BN's victory in both by-elections and with Allah's will, his prayers were answered," said Puad.

Puad, who is Umno's former Batu Pahat MP, said Lim should respect religious practices.

"Lim's negative comment towards Najib's prayer to Allah is an insult to Islam. He is clearly racist and insensitive toward the individual religious practices in Malaysia.

"Imagine if someone belittles the prayer practiced among the Buddhist, Christians and Hindus in the country. How would they feel? Surely Lim would politicise it.

"Therefore Muslims should feel insulted by Lim's comment and he should apologise," said Puad.

After BN's win in the by-elections, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said he had earlier on prayed to Allah to show if he was on the right path.

Najib said that his prayer was answered through BN's victories in the twin by-elections.

Lim subsequently questioned if there would be claims that Najib's 1MDB and RM2.6 billion donation scandals also received divine blessing.

Puad advised Lim to pray more, noting that the 75-year-old politician was getting on in years.

"Lim should learn to pray to God at his advanced age and not question a Muslim's belief in their God."

Puad added that Lim should not be commenting on matters of prayer if he did not believe in God.