Umno should return to Islam, be with Pas to rise - Nik Abduh

SHAH ALAM - Former Bachok MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz believes that Umno needs to return to Islam besides working with Pas as a partner to rise again following its defeat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

The Central Pas Working Committee member said the party’s defeats should be a lesson and a path of repentance that needed to be followed.

He also said that Umno had shown its determination to change through amendments in the party constitution that put Islam as its main focus.

“Unfortunately, due to internal divisions, the confusion of power struggles in the government after GE14 as well as competition with the Bersatu party have dimmed the efforts to strengthen the spirit of Islam in Umno.

“Is that a hypocrite? God is wise, I will not judge.

“For me, Umno’s choice to join Pakatan Harapan (PH) is a desperate act due to the loss of confidence in PN (Perikatan Nasional), not in Islam,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Nik Mohamad Abduh added that Umno also needed to be ‘friend’ with Pas in order to improve itself.

“When you repent and want to improve yourself, you need to accompany a good friend. The patient must be with the doctor instead of among themselves,” he said.

Therefore, he said, Umno must be with Pas because the party was ahead of other parties in its commitment to Islam.

Nik Mohamad Abduh explained that the misunderstanding between Umno and Pas could be resolved.

He also consistently invited Umno to work with Pas to build the nation.

“There’s still two groups in Umno and which group will lead later, I am consistent in inviting them to join Pas in building the nation. I would not meddle in people’s internal affairs.

“All misunderstandings can be resolved. The great victory is not by killing but achieved by reconciliation,” he said.

Meanwhile, he claimed that two main factors that caused Barisan Nasional (BN) to lose in GE15 were the BN brand was too old, dull and lacked a touch of renewal in addition to the party’s internal divisions.

“Compared to the younger, new and attractive PN and PH, they are stronger at attracting new voters.

“Unhealed internal divisions. When you enter the ring with a broken heart, you will not win. Division equals to defeat,” he claimed.

He claimed that with those two weaknesses, BN did not have the strength to repel all the attacks directed at the party during the last GE15 campaign.