The attacks by PAS against Umno of late are only a tactic by the party to divert the people's attention from its problems with its allies in the opposition pact, Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein said.

nurul in china shanghai 280812 03 He said it was a tactic by PAS to avoid the people from questioning the party for not discussing hudud and the statement by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) on religious freedom at the party's recent assembly.

"Before this, they (PAS) also call us (Umno members) infidels, that our president is the Pharaoh. They also say our that president and prime minister rear pigs.

"They also say that Umno supporters will not go to heaven, but because of the internal problems between PAS, DAP and PKR, their leaders' statements contradict one another, so they have to deviate the people's attention to Umno and Barisan Nasional," he told a media conference after a mass circumcision programme organised by the Batu Umno division in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hishammuddin said this in response to the latest accusation by PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that Umno was akin to "an apostate".

- Bernama