It is a bribe for Nik Aziz to accept the RM65,000 Hajj trip

It is ethically and morally wrong for MB Kelantan and PAS Murshidul Am Dato’ Nik Aziz Nik Mat to accept the luxurious RM65,ooo per person Hajj trip under ‘package scheme’ offered by TH Travel Sdn. Bhd. Accepting the offer should be classified as a bribe. However controversial Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kelantan Bhd. CEO Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman, who is also Nik Aziz’s son-in-law says it is was not wrong for the latter to accept the luxurious pilgrimage trip.

The Star has the story:

Published: Friday November 13, 2009 MYT 7:24:00 PM

Nik Aziz was not wrong in accepting paid trip to Mecca: Son-in-law

By SYED AZHAR

KOTA BARU: Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nikmat’s son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman said there was nothing wrong in his father-in-law, who is a revered Ulama, to accept offers from people willing to sponsor him for Haj pilgrimage as they felt his presence would spiritually enhance their stay in Mecca.

He added that it was a norm for people to spend money to take Tok Gurus from Pondoks or Zawiya (monastery) in Kelantan to perform the Haj in Mecca.

“Its like this, he (Nik Abdul Aziz) is like other Tok Gurus and many people want to go to the Holy land with people like him because his knowledge of Islam is inspiring.

“Naturally many would want to perform Haj with him including me.

“We can benefit from his knowledge, tazkirah, his experience that would have an effect to our soul, he said this to reporters during an interview at his house in Pulau Melaka recently,” he said.

Abdul Ariffahmi, 35, who is also the chief executive officer of Kelantan Mentri Besar Incorporated (PMBK), was asked to comment on this issue after talk emerged that Nik Abdul Aziz had accepted a RM65,000 sponsorship to perform the Haj from Nov 18.

Earlier this week, Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also the PAS spiritual adviser, said it was okay to accept sponsorships from individuals to perform the Haj, saying that this was not an act of corruption.

Abdul Ariffahmi added that many Tok Gurus did not have enough money to perform the Haj and that it was not out of the ordinary for someone to volunteer to pay for the trip.

Abdul Ariffahmi said he was expected to leave for the Holy land on Sunday.

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For the record, the company which offered to pay for Nik Aziz’s Hajj trip Abroad Technology Sdn. Bhd. is a contractor for billboards all over Kelantan.

Nik Aziz, who is also PMBK Chairman should not be accepting gifts from contractors and/or suppliers to the state GLC. Legally and ethically, it is no difference if Nik Aziz and company were to be given an all expense shopping holiday in London and Paris.

It is extremely sad that this Ariffahmi’s statement is made. It demonstrate how PAS Leaders have little regards for moral and ethics and even willing to manipulate Islam for the purpose to justify their wrong doings. PAS has misled Muslims with their skewed and narrowminded intepretation of Islam to suit and justify their actions for so long.

For Ariffahmi to say “Its like this, he (Nik Abdul Aziz) is like other Tok Gurus and many people want to go to the Holy land with people like him because his knowledge of Islam is inspiring. We can benefit from his knowledge, tazkirah, his experience that would have an effect to our soul, he said this to reporters during an interview at his house in Pulau Melaka recently,” also means that as a Spirtual Leader and respected Tok Guru, only the affluent and connected persons are able to personally enjoy the wisdom, knowledge and benefits of such as man and not public at large. It short, Nik Aziz’s own practice just made his position as a Spiritual Leader as a ‘privileged commodity’, where only some persons can benefit.

This skewed and narrowminded intepretation of Islam to suit and justify their political actions and policies had gone a long way. In the early sixties, PAS ulamas issued a fatwa that it is wrong and sinful to work (in a coalition government) with Non Muslims. This was meant to justify that UMNO leaders were sinful working with MCA and MIC leaders in the Perikatan and Federal Governement. And yet since 1990, PAS has had working relationship and partnership with not only Non Muslims, but anti-Islam/Malay Chinese Chauvinists like DAP.

In 1999, to justify PAS lifelong member Shahnon Ahmad’s vulgar novel “Shit”, Nik Aziz said on national TV that “Allah also swear (Allah pun mencarut)!”. Then post 10th General Elections later in the same year, he proclaimed that “Its alright to work with Syaitan”, to justify the working relationship with anti-Islam/Malay Chinese Chauvinist DAP.

The most recent outburst of Nik Aziz is “Damn UMNO (Pergi jahanam UMNO)!”, on the suggestion of PAS President Dato’ Hadi Awang’s closing address of the PAS annual assembly for the possiblity of forming a ‘Unity Government’ with UMNO. This is unbecoming of a PAS Spiritual Leader and Chief Executive of a state and seen to create a new polemic to wedge further the disunity of the Malays.

*Updated 830am