PAKATAN Harapan’s defeated Chempaka candidate, Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, is barred from leading prayers at Masjid Tok Guru in Kelantan until he regains favour with his mother, the widow of PAS’ late spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Nik Omar’s brother, Nik Abduh, announced this in a statement today, adding that the measure was only temporary.

“I confirm the news that my brother, Nik Omar, has been barred from his duties as an imam to lead prayers at Masjid Tok Guru.

“This is a family decision and it is only temporary until he gets the blessing of his mother (Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak),” Nik Abduh, who won the Bachok parliamentary seat, said.

Nik Omar is out of favour with his family and PAS members and supporters in the Islamist party’s Kelantan stronghold for contesting his late father’s seat, Chempaka, on a PKR ticket.

He is now with Amanah, a PH component party, which they see as a betrayal to his father and to PAS.

Nik Abduh said it was Nik Omar who had turned a private matter into a public one.

“The blessing of a mother is actually a private matter. But it was Nik Omar who informed the public that his mother did not give him her blessing to contest in the election.

“He himself went against against his mother’s blessings, and did so openly. This has brought a huge impact on a mother who has to shoulder embarrassment in the public eye.

“It has brought repercussions on a mother that we, her children, have never seen before. It continues to this day. No need for me to go into details.”

The Bachok MP, however, said this rift did not affect the family’s daily bond and added that the family still met for meals together.

“Our relationship continues as usual. Our closeness is maintained.”

But he reiterated the seriousness of going against a mother, according to Islamic teachings, saying that their family had been taught that “obedience to a mother is religion”.

“The blessing of a mother is far greater than the blessing of five or 10 million Malaysians. A mother will never lose by the side of Allah,” Nik Abduh said. – May 19, 2018.