Nasharudin says not leaving Pas, accuses Karpal of anti-Islam

(NST) - Former Pas deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said he is not leaving the Islamic party amidst amounting pressure over a photo of him taken with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Mecca recently.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Bachok member of parliament said the meeting was non-partisan and that he was invited on a request by Saudi clerics.

"The clerics are my friends and they requested if I could arrange a meeting with the prime minister. After the prime minister agreed, I was invited on a special visa to attend the meeting," he said.

Nasharudin explained that the meeting did not touch on any matters pertaining Pas or Umno.

"What we discussed was issues surrounding crises in Syria and Rohingya The clerics talked about what role Malaysia can play to help these countries," he said.

He stressed that he never had any intention to leave Pas for Umno.

"After the meeting, people suddenly said I would join Umno. For the umpteenth time, I have never had any intention to join Umno. I just consider them (the leaders in Umno) as my Muslim brothers.

"Differing views in politics shouldn't be a reason why we cannot sit down and talk about the society," he said.

Earlier, Nasharudin accused DAP chairman Karpal Singh as anti-Islam for his refusal to accept hudud law and that Pas should make a decisive stand against him.

"Pas should make a strong stand on this issue. It is our fight for Islam that makes people support us. However, with continuous objection by Karpal, many are still waiting what Pas would do about that," he said.