Accusing the media of misquoting him, Nik Aziz Nik Mat has claimed that certain quarters are attempting to put the professional and ulama factions in PAS at loggerheads ahead of the party polls.

The PAS spiritual leader denied ever saying that the next party deputy president should be an ulama (religious scholar).

"I said something else, and the papers wrote something else. I never said do not elect a non-ulama because all in PAS are called ulama," he said.

"The professionals are also ulama and the ulama are also professionals. Some quarters have deliberately mentioned the two, when there is only one," he added.

Previously, Sinar Harian reported that Nik Aziz had thrown his weight behind an ulama to be the deputy president in the upcoming party election in November but with a caveat.

This was on top of supporting incumbent PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also an ulama, to retain his post.

"I pray that Hadi who has a lot of experience and knowledge, if possible, that he continue to be president.

"But the deputy should be based on votes and surely I would like an ulama to be his (Hadi's) deputy," he was quoted as saying.

In his clarification today, Nik Aziz said that an ulama was a person who could speak on religious matters irrespective of whether he wore a tie or songkok.

"This person speaks based on the Quran and Hadith. There are some quarters who want to put the two factions at loggerheads. These people have a nationalist mindset," he added.