Vote based on integrity, not religion, Nik Omar urges Muslims

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 5 years ago · Published on 21 Jan 2019 10:15AM · 6 Comments

Yadim chairman Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz says Islam demands that the government tackles corruption despite whatever PAS says about Muslims having to back a Muslim candidate. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, January 21, 2019.

MUSLIMS should not vote based on a candidate’s religion but should pick an individual who is part of a coalition that will defend Islam and reject corruption, said Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz.

In an apparent retort against the religious rhetoric used by Umno and PAS in the Cameron Highlands by-election, Nik Omar said it is more important for Muslims to make a stand against corruption than to vote for a fellow Muslim.

“When we choose a leader, we must be confident in him even though he is not Muslim,” said the son of legendary PAS leader Nik Abdul Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

“We choose him, not based on his religion, but because he is in our team and in a government that we are confident brings the message of Islam,” he said at a religious forum in Sg Koyan 1, Cameron Highlands, last night.

Nik Omar said his father advocated for the same thing when PAS was in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance from 2008 to 2015.

“He once said when there is a general election, in seats where there is a Muslim candidate, choose the Muslim candidate. In other places, where there is a party that is together with us but its candidate is not Muslim, choose him,” said the chairman of the Islamic Missionary Foundation (Yadim).

“We choose him, not based on his religion, but because he is with us to serve our people, to serve the country, to serve our religion,” he said.

Nik Omar was joined on stage by independent Muslim preachers Fauwaz Fadzil and Muhsin Ahmad.

The crowd at a religious forum in Sg Koyan 1, Cameron Highlands, last night. Pakatan Harapan deployed the son of legendary PAS leader Nik Abdul Nik Aziz Nik Mat to woo the Malay vote. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, January 21, 2019.

PH candidate M. Manogaran from DAP is taking on Barisan Nasional’s Ramli Mohd Nor and two independent candidates, Wong Seng Yee and Sallehudin Ab Talib, in the Cameron Highlands seat.

PAS, which is asking its supporters to back the BN candidate, has branded DAP as anti-Islam and said Muslims are duty bound to deny DAP a victory.

However, Nik Omar said in the 14th general election, BN fielded a non-Muslim candidate – C. Sivarraajh – who also won the support of PAS.

“In the previous elections, they asked voters to choose a non-Muslim. How is it that in one instance you can choose a non-Muslim and in another instance you cannot?”

Nik Omar urged the voters of Cameron Highlands to follow the lead of Malaysians who voted to end the reign of a corrupt government and installed an administration dedicated to fighting graft in GE14.

 “Corruption is an important issue. Fighting against corruption is something that Islam demands,” he said.

“The majority of Malaysians were brave enough to change and I urge the people of Cameron Highlands also to be brave enough to change.” – January 21, 2019.

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Comments

  • Very well said and with clear conscience, God bless Malaysia Baru

    Posted 5 years ago by Prabhaharan G K · Reply

  • Defend Islam trying to say Islam is a weak religion it needs Defense. For heaven sake religion is just religion to make u a good person with Godly Qualities . Defense minster of Religion is GOD not human who are goin to rot one day

    Posted 5 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • You are a true Muslim.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Not only TRUE Muslim also RIGHT Muslim....

      Posted 5 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply

  • It is so rare to have such personality....shabas

    Posted 5 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • It seems to be PAS only argument these days. Muslims do not make up 100% of the population so why should 100% of positions go only to Muslims? They should denounce corruption and in particular Najib and Co. otherwise they will never be seen as a credible ruling party.

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply