He had been accused of treading close to the peripheries of blasphemy, but one revered scholar regarded him as a 'candle flickering in the distance' ushering the coming of a glorious Islamic age.

Police reports, bouquets and brickbats aside, Nga Kor Ming refuses to be cowed.

nga kor ming reciting quranic verses at pas hq 200409 01 Last night, the Perak DAP secretary and Taiping parliamentarian once again recited Quranic verses at the headquarters of the Islamic party PAS in Kuala Lumpur. And he drew rapturous applause.

"With great respect and humility, I would like to recite (states the name of the verse)," he said halfway during his speech, eliciting murmurs from the audience.

But before reciting the verse, the DAP leader tickled the audience when he recited a poem, which among others, described himself as someone who 'studies hard' (with regards to learning how to recite the verses).

With PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat casting an approving look, Nga continued his poem which said that reading the Al-Quran is not wrong and that if he commits an error (in his recitation), then he should be taught and guided by others who are more learned.

Just leadership and fires of hell

After reciting the verse, the DAP leader explained its meaning to the audience. "The Almighty has asked us to act in a just and compassionate manner."

"A prime example of this is the leadership of (ousted Perak menteri besar and PAS leader) Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin. He was fair to all races and that is why he was loved by all races.

gantang by election 070409 pas nizar win result announce 04 "Never did I imagine that when a Malay leader enters a hall that is full of Chinese people, he would receive a standing ovation," he added.

Later, Nga recited another verse from the Quran, which he said warned that the fires of hell awaited those who commit oppression and cruelty.

"Let us reject cruelty and vote for Pakatan Rakyat. Can we do this?" he asked and the predominantly Malay audience responded with a resounding 'Yes'.

Mohd Nizar was unceremoniously booted out of power in February when Barisan Nasional seized control of the state government with the defections of several Pakatan representatives.

However, the Patakan menteri besar scored a vindication of sorts when he won the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election on April 7, which observers described as a referendum on the Perak takeover.

Nga is a foundation stone

During the campaign for the by-election, Nga had ruffled feathers when he recited Quranic verses at a ceramah, leading to police reports being lodged against him for belittling Islam.

nga kor ming reciting quranic verses at pas hq 200409 02 However, PAS' Nik Aziz gave his blessings, praised Nga for his courage and described him as a foundation stone towards the building of a glorious Islamic civilization in this country.

"I have strong faith that Islam's glory will be restored in this nation through such methods and similar incidents (the controversy surrounding Nga).

"Maybe YB (Nga) is the person who will lay the foundation stone (to achieve this end)," he had said in a letter to the DAP leader.

"God willing, I am witnessing the flicker of a candle in the distance. Let us proceed there together," he added.

VIDEO l 2.34 MIN