Nik Aziz Slams PROTES

KOTA BARU : The concert during the anti-fuel hike rally organised by Protes in Petaling Jaya on Sunday should not have been part of the programme in the first place, said Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He said the concert went against the original intention of holding the rally to protest against the hike in fuel prices. He was commenting on the incident where the singer of a band pulled down his pants to reveal boxer shorts during a performance at the rally at the Kelana Jaya stadium.

“Our supporters went there to protest in the name of Allah but suddenly, others want to show us how to organise a protest. It turned out to be a circus where, instead of protesting, people were just out there to have fun.”

He said he never imagined such an incident would take place under the Opposition platform.
“This is not right. It is improper and bad organising. I am saddened,” Nik Abdul Aziz told a press conference here yesterday.

Nik Abdul Aziz said quarrels and fights that broke out among members of a band and the audience were shameful and PAS is aghast that the party was linked to the rally. The rally, billed as a “protest of one million people,” was coordinated by PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli and sanctioned by Pakatan Rakyat.

Most of the top Pakatan leaders such as PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang attended the rally. Nik Abdul Aziz supported the move by the PAS private security volunteers (Unit Amal) to leave the scene as they were frustrated over how a lewd act could occur at the rally.

It is learnt that several PAS ulamas here were grateful that Nik Abdul Aziz, who is the PAS spiritual adviser, did not attend the rally as he could have been shocked by the incident, and he has to look after his health after having suffered a mild heart attack in 2004.

State PAS deputy commissioner Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the concert was inappropriate and the lewd act was not only offensive to Muslims but to followers of other religions too.