PAS' actions in performing a special prayer and praying for the downfall of BN and Umno in the next general election would destroy its credentials as an Islamic party, Najib Tun Razak said tonight.     

umno general assembly 230904 najib being profound The BN chairman and Umno president said such actions were very un-Islamic and against Islamic principles.     

He said it was the norm to hold prayers for good tidings, longevity and for the peace and prosperity of a nation.     

"Prayers were never offered for the destruction of a political party. It goes against the principles of Islam.     

"Umno has never prayed for the destruction of PAS," he told the Malaysian media in Phnom Penh where he is attending the three-day, 21st Asean Summit Conference.     

Najib said this when asked to comment on newspaper reports that a prayer session was held at Stadium Muhamad Ke-IV, in conjunction with the 58th PAS annual muktamar in Kota Baharu, which among others, had sought the help of Allah to destroy Umno and the BN for the opposition party's easy access to Putrajaya.

Nik Aziz: Umno has rejected Islam

Meanwhile PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the prayer was not wrong as Umno had rejected the religion.    

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan menteri besar, said such a call was allowed for by Islam because the party deemed that Umno had been belitting Islam all this while.    

NONE "Not wrong (to call for the prayer). Umno has already rejected Islam, so how can it return to the fold," he told reporters at the end of PAS' 58th muktamar (Annual Congress) today.               

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, when asked about  the same matter, said the prayers could be recited when one felt oppressed.    

Asked why no prayers were recited for Muslims in Palestine and Syria who were oppressed and also the Rohingya in Myanmar, he said this was often done at other religious functions  including the Friday prayers.   

Meanwhile in Besut, Abdullah Md Zin, the religious advisor to the prime minister said there was nothing Islamic about the action by PAS and it clearly showed how much the party had deviated from the true teachings of the religion.     

"Are Umno people not Muslims. This type of practice harkens back to the time of the Khawarij (a group of Muslims who claimed that they were better than other Muslims in the early days of Islam)," he told Bernama today.     

Abdullah, who is also Besut MP, said by right PAS members should pray for the wellbeing of all Muslims.  

Chorus of indignation

 

In KOTA BAHARU, former secretary of Dewan Ulama PAS Kelantan, Wan Ismail Wan Ahmad, commenting on the same matter, said Islam had never called on its followers to pray for the misfortune of their brethren even if they held differing views.      

Meanwhile, Abdullah Saamah, the founder of Madrasah Najmiah better known as Pondok Geting in Tumpat, described the action as a big sin as such a call contravened the teachings of Islam.      

In ALOR SETAR, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister  Mohd Johari Baharom said he regretted the action by PAS because it put Muslims in a bad light as they should be grateful for the blessings Allah had bestowed the faithful.     

In IPOH, Umno supreme council member Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, who is also second finance minister, said PAS, instead of doing this, should be praying for the wellbeing of Umno members who are their "brothers in Islam".     

In PUTRAJAYA, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said PAS had been "blinded in its craze for power" so much so that it was willing to forego the true teachings of Islam which forbade thinking ill of others.     

In SEMPORNA, Minister in the Sabah Chief Minister's office Nasir Tun Sakaran who is also in charge of Islamic affairs said PAS should be praying for the wellbeing of Umno members who are also their "brothers in Islam".      

Umno rehearses AGM

Umno today carried out a full dress rehearsal of the ceremonies that will be held in conjunction with Umno General Assembly 2012 scheduled to take place at the Putra World Trade Centre from Nov 27 to Dec 1.      

The three-hour rehearsal involved the opening of the meetings of the three wings of Umno, the opening of the general assembly itself and the flag-raising ceremony at Menara Dato' Onn.      

Umno executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh said 2,759 Umno delegates from across the country were expected to attend the assembly.      

He said during the assembly, the delegates would dominate up to the fifth floor of the Merdeka Hall, while the sixth floor would be designated for observers and government officials.      

"Unlike before, delegates who want to enter the hall for this year's assembly must not only have a special access pass, but must also show their identity card to the guards," he told Bernama after the rehearsal.      

Abdul Rauf said 1,700 pressmen, including those representing foreign press, were expected to cover the assembly.      

A video clip on Malaysia's contribution towards the signing of the peace agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government will also be shown at the assembly, he added.

- Bernama