Don't be fooled by 'political genie' PAS, Nur Jazlan tells Umno members

Summary

• Umno's Nur Jazlan Mohamed warned members against PAS' sudden support for Najib Razak's solidarity gathering, accusing PAS of manipulating religion for political gain.

• PAS plans a January 6 gathering in Putrajaya, coinciding with a court hearing that may allow Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest.

• Umno’s Mohd Puad Zarkashi clarified the event is non-political and wasn’t discussed with PAS.

Umno Supreme Council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed has advised his party members not to be swayed by PAS' sudden support for the solidarity gathering for former prime minister Najib Razak.

“PAS leaders often speak as if they are representatives of heaven. But for me, PAS is not a ‘political angel’ but more of a ‘political genie’ (jin politik) because they cleverly manipulate religion for their own interests.

“Their political fatwas change according to convenience. In the past, being friends with Umno was a jihad for the ummah (Muslims), but when they became enemies, Umno was branded as infidels. The same applies to the DAP – when friends, the DAP was good; when fighting, the DAP became communists,” he said on Facebook yesterday.

Nur Jazlan also questioned PAS' motives for wanting to defend Najib and mobilise their members for the gathering at the Court of Appeal on Jan 6.

“Perhaps now PAS is looking to get more money from Najib because Bersatu is already broke, and when PMX (tenth Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) talks about holding an early general election, PAS panics because they currently have no funds,” he said.

‘Apolitical rally’

On Dec 29, PAS said it would stand in solidarity with Umno for Najib on Jan 6 by organising a gathering in Putrajaya.

In an internal memo, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan instructed party leaders to mobilize members for the event, scheduled for 9am outside the Palace of Justice.

The gathering coincides with a hearing on the royal addendum that allegedly could allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

On Dec 31, Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the solidarity gathering was not political in nature and had never been discussed with PAS.

Puad was responding to criticism from DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng, who expressed unease with the gathering given that Umno is part of the government coalition.

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