Amanah says Sungai Besar pick disproves anti-Ulama claims
The Shah Alam MP said the choice of Azhar Ab Shukur, whom he described as a young and open minded religious scholar, demonstrated that his party did not have any agenda against Muslim clerics as alleged.
“Amanah is not anti ulama. There is a picture being painted by some quarters that we are anti-ustaz and anti-ulama and all,” he said during a press conference today.
He said Azhar was also able to bridge the gap between the religious and material worlds, noting that the latter was also a successful businessman, and contrasted this to pure religious teachers.
“We can discuss with him and he respects the views of others, instead of a conservative person who is not open to views,” Khalid explained.
Amanah was formed by former members from PAS’s so-called progressive faction, who left the Islamist party after they were purged from leadership roles.
Khalid also believed that voters would accept Azhar despite his father's Umno ties and his relative inexperience compared to Amanah president Mohamad Sabu who was earlier expected to run.
The choice of Azhar over Mohamad Sabu also showed Amanah did not monopolise opportunities for its leaders, he added.
The Sungai Besar by-election will run concurrently with the Kuala Kangsar poll; nominations for both will be on June 5 and polling on June 18.
Azhar will face PAS’s Meru assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman and Barisan Nasional’s Budiman Mohd Zohdi, who is also the representative for the Sungai Panjang state seat.
Nominations for the Sungai Besar by-election, as well as for Kuala Kangsar, a federal seat in Perak, have been set for this Sunday while polling will be on June 18.
from Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/1UisAW4
via Mukah Pages
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