PAS spiritual advisor Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today reiterated that it was not wrong in Islam to seek divine retribution against people who harboured ill intentions.

The Kelantan menteri besar said he was willing to debate the matter with any ulama (Islamic religious scholar) who held a contrary view.

NONE He had been asked for his comments about various Islamic religious leaders and ulama taking him to task for saying it was okay to pray for divine retribution against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Umno if the federal government refused to grant oil royalty to Kelantan, which he (Nik Aziz) described as something not right.

He further clarified that he was referring to asking for divine intervention so that Najib could have a change of heart and if the prime minister still did not, according to him, Najib harboured ill-intentions, and this called for divine retribution.

Earlier today, Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein described Nik Aziz's prayer against the prime minister and Umno over oil royalty as ridiculous.

"We in Umno do not wish to pray for PAS to be divided, but we are grateful that what PAS has been accused us of is happening to itself.

"They (PAS) accused Umno of creating issues that could divide PAS, that we have caused a rift among their leaders. But we have been patient, and in the end God showed it to them when they became their own victims."

Always in denial mode

The home minister said Nik Aziz's penchant for condemning Umno leaders, for instance, likening them to Pharaoh, calling them pig carers and infidels, and accusing them of corrupt practices had become a culture in PAS, but such actions were actually to cover up PAS leadership's own weaknesses.

"Nik Aziz had created a lot of controversies. Of course no party is free from controversies but we face these openly, unlike Nik Aziz who is always in denial mode."

hishammuddin hussein home ministry 140409 talking Hishammuddin said different from PAS, Umno did not point the accusing finger at others.

In fact, after the last general election, Umno strove to improve its leadership and did some soul searching, besides amending its constitution, he added.

He opined that the turmoil in PAS had to do with the party's relationship with PKR and DAP as they had different ideologies to the extent that PAS had deviated from its real, original struggle. - Bernama