NIK AZIZ SLAMS KARPAL'S CRITICISM ON PAS

NIK AZIZ SLAMS KARPAL'S CRITICISM ON PAS BECOMING BACKBONE OF PAKATAN RAKYAT

Sunday, 06 April 2008

(Bernama) KOTA BAHARU, April 6 -- PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has criticised DAP chairman Karpal Singh for saying that PAS should not dream about becoming the backbone of the proposed "Pakatan Rakyat" and establishing an Islamic state in the country as belittling the Kelantan state government's efforts to promote Islam. The Kelantan Menteri Besar asked Karpal to prove the weaknesses of the PAS administration in Kelantan under Islamic principles over the past 18 years.

"I want to know (from him) what is wrong with Islam and where does he (Karpal) disagree with Islam. The non-Muslim communities are happy under us (PAS)," he told reporters after meeting the Japanese ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie, at his office here Sunday.

Last week, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Ahmad Yaakob had said that PAS should be the backbone of "Pakatan Rakyat", a yet to be formed coalition of Opposition parties if it wanted to realise its dream of establishing an Islamic state. Ahmad said the dream would only become a reality if all parties understood and accepted the real Islamic concept because Islam was a religion for all.

Karpal responded by saying that there was no question of any one party -- PAS, DAP or PKR -- becoming the backbone in the Pakatan Rakyat as all were equal in the alliance. Following Karpal's statement, Nik Aziz said he would invite the DAP politician to visit Kelantan and see for himself the development in the state under Islamic principles.

"I will pay for the cost of his hotel accommodation. He does not need to see me, he can just meet the non-Muslim communities in Kelantan and then tell me what is not good about Islam."

Nik Aziz said the Islamic financial system implemented by the Kelantan state government had been recognised by global economic experts and since Kelantan came under PAS it had made a lot of improvements including abolishing interest payments and establishing an Islamic pawn-broking system.

"Non-Muslims have also been given the right to be appointed community supervisors and I want to ask him (Karpal) what is not good about this."

Nik Aziz said non-Muslims had never been forced to embrace Islam and even with the introduction of Islamic values in the state they were comfortable with the PAS administration.
On the visit by Horie, the Menteri Besar said the Japanese ambassador was impressed with the business enterprise of Kelantanese women.

"I invited the ambassador to visit the Siti Khadijah central market and Wakaf Che Yeh wholesale market to get a closer look of how enterprising Kelantanese women are in business," he said.