If Zaid Ibrahim is a 'sinner' for consuming alcohol, then Umno is far worse for granting gambling and liquor factory licences, said Mustafa Ali, secretary-general of the Islamic party PAS.

Mustafa was responding to the relentless attacks on Zaid, who is PKR's candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, over his past brush with alcoholic beverages.

“Zaid’s sin is a personal sin, he has apologised and if god forgives him then it is settled. But the government leaders that give out licenses to liquor factories is constantly sinning,” he said, during a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

azlan Stressing his argument further, Mustafa then accused four previous prime ministers and Umno presidents - Tunku Abdul Rahman, Abdul Razak, Hussein Onn and Dr Mahathir Mohamad - of having consumed alcohol.

“All the previous prime ministers have been involved with liquor, with the exception of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” he added.

With this, Mustafa said Umno's attack on Zaid's morals was akin to the pot calling the kettle black and accused the Umno top brass of being involved either in alcohol, womanising, gambling or corruption.

"Some leaders are involved in all four things," he claimed.

'Zaid's history won't demoralise us'

Later, Mustafa ( bottom ) brushed off a question as to why Zaid managed to escape syariah law punishment, which prescribes whipping sentences for consuming alcohol.

NONE “He was not brought to court and Umno leaders did not have him charged because he was in Umno then, they were drinking together”.

Since the announcement of Zaid's candidacy, he has been under constant attack for being a kaki botol (alcoholic). Several doctored photographs of him clutching a bottle of liquor have thus far appeared on banners in Hulu Selangor and online.

Responding to this, Zaid said he had "repented" and said he dabbled with alcohol only during his younger days and accused top Umno leaders of drinking, without naming anyone.

On claims that the accusations against Zaid would demoralise PAS members and stay away from the campaign, Mustafa said this was not the case.

“PAS is not affected by the issue because our members understand Islam. This is a personal problem and he (Zaid) has repented… But Umno still remains unclean,” he said.

PAS to go all out

Mustafa also denied claims that PAS was reluctant to campaign in Hulu Selangor because of this issue and promised that the party would go all out for coalition partners PKR and Zaid.

NONE “At the moment, our strength (in Hulu Selangor) is only at about 20 percent of our manpower but we will increase it to about 60 percent.

“Now that PKR has said it needs additional manpower, the PAS leadership decided last night that we will go all out,” he added.

He adds that PAS spiritual advisor Nik Aziz Nik Mat will also join in the campaign on April 23.