Emotional Nik Omar recalls 'dismissal' from Tok Guru's Mosque

Barely 10 days since Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz contested his late father's seat against PAS in the 14th general election, his early morning slot of delivering kuliah (religious lectures) at Masjid Pulau Melaka has been handed to his younger brother.

According to Nik Omar, who is the second son of the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, he was no longer allowed to deliver the Friday dawn kuliah, which was previously his responsibility at the Kelantan mosque.

He said this in a morning lecture at Wisma Tok Guru in Kota Bharu this morning.

Nik Omar added that the role had allegedly been handed to his brother Nik Abduh, who is Bachok parliamentarian and the fifth son of Tok Guru, as Nik Aziz was affectionately known.

Masjid Pulau Melaka is more commonly called "Masjid Tok Guru", or "Tok Guru's Mosque", after the brothers’ late father.

Recalling the incident in Kota Bahru this morning, Nik Omar said the roles at the mosque had been divided out among the late Kelantan menteri besar's sons upon his passing in 2015.

He was given the job of delivering the kuliah during Maghrib on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and early morning on Fridays.

In a voice shaky with emotion, Nik Omar claimed his brother had become the imam and had been delivering the kuliah at the mosque as the former was performing his early morning prayers today.

"After that, we greeted each other (bersalam), only I ask, was this greeting all right? Wasn't I like waste to him (Tak najis ke ambo ni?)," he said to laughter from those listening to his talk.

Nik Omar had earlier apologised for not being able to deliver his talk in his usual manner as he was "unable to focus" following the morning's events at Masjid Pulau Melaka.

He further claimed Nik Abduh had informed him that he was no longer allowed to be imam or deliver the kuliah at the mosque.

"He (Nik Abduh) said it was a family decision," he said.

He said this was the price he had to pay for his decision to join PAS splinter group Amanah, which is in the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

He nonetheless assured listeners that he was not backing away from his decision to do so.

Nik Omar had contested the Chempaka state seat, his father's old seat, under the Harapan ticket during the 14th general election but was unsuccessful.

Harapan too had failed to make any inroads in the state, losing all state seats it contested. -Mkini