The Malaysian Insight

NIK Zawawi Nik Salleh, a lawmaker who once publicly prayed for Pakatan Harapan’s term in Putrajaya be “shortened”, is now the head of PAS’ influential ulama wing.

Nik Zawawi, who is Pasir Puteh MP, was elected unopposed as Dewan ulama chief at the wing’s annual general assembly in Kuantan today. He replaces Mahfodz Mohamad, who did not seek a third term.

A scholar and former lecturer at a PAS-run Islamic college, Nik Zawawi made headlines when he led a mass prayer at last year’s rally against Malaysia ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Nik Zawawi had asked God to shorten Pakatan Harapan’s time in office as he said the administration was selling out Islam and dividing the country’s Muslim community.

“Please don’t lengthen its lifespan, God. Shorten the lifespan of this PH government,” Zawawi was reported to have said in his prayer.

Zawawi has also described PH as being an even worse government than Barisan Nasional which it defeated.

The PAS ulama wing consists of Muslim scholars and jurists who chart the Islamist’s party’s policies  and ensure the party stays true to its interpretation of Islam.

The ulama wing’s endorsement was necessary for PAS to work together with former arch rivals Umno. In the 2014 PAS assembly, it was the ulama wing who officially started the push for the party to break off ties with its ally DAP.  

All of the Dewan Ulama’s office holders were elected unopposed, including Johari Mat, who is is Nik Zawawi’s deputy, and Khairul Mutanaza Ismail, who is the new vice-chief. – June 20, 2019.