Perak PAS Youth chief Raja Ahmad Iskandar Al-Hiss claimed that Umno had unwittingly appointed a PAS member as one of its new Umno supreme council member.

In a statement today, Raja Ahmad said Mohammad Kazim Elias, whose appointment was announced by Umno yesterday, is a PAS member since 1998.

"Perak PAS Youth would like to clarify that Mohammad Kazim is a PAS member since July 17, 1998 with the membership number 0475276 under the Kampung Manjoi PAS branch in Tambun," he said.

Raja Ahmad queried whether Mohammad Kazim was even an Umno member as he still holds a PAS membership card.

                

ustaz mohammad kazim elias "Does a person not need to join the party first before being appointed to any political position (within that party)?" he said.

He also questioned whether Mohammad Kazim ( left ) was being pressured into accepting the appointment, which will ultimately affect his status as an independent religious speaker.

"It will be embarrassing for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should Mohammad Kazim reject the appointment.

"Let us wait and see at the Umno swearing-in ceremony on December 4," he said. Mohammad Kazim has yet to respond to the appointment.

Little is known about the religious scholar's political background as Mohammad Kazim has sought to maintain his independence as a religious speaker.

However, he was spotted speaking on a BN stage at the Nov 5 Sungai Limau by-election but he denied campaigning for the ruling coalition.

Umno had in recent years taken in religious scholars as members in a bid to broaden its appeal, especially among PAS' support base.

Another rising religious scholar in Umno is its Youth wing exco Fathul Bari.