KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 —  Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz today confirmed that his brother, Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, has been barred from leading congregational prayers and giving lectures at Masjid Tok Guru in Kota Baru.  

In a statement posted on Harakah Daily today, the Bachok MP said it was a ‘family decision’ made due to Nik Omar’s insistence in disobeying their mother by joining politics.

"I can confirm that Nik Omar is being restricted from being an imam for daily prayers at Masjid Tok Guru, Pulau Melaka.

"This was a decision made by the whole NikmatiLlah (name of Nik Aziz’s extended family) members a few days prior to Ramadan,” he said in a statement.

Nik Abduh said the restriction is only temporary until his brother regains the blessings of their mother Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak.

Nik Omar, a former lifetime PAS member, had created quite a controversy in GE14 when he contested under PKR ticket for the Chempaka state seat in Kelantan.

He, however, lost to PAS’ Ahmad Fathan Mahmood, whom his own mother also helped campaigning for.

This, reportedly, had upset his mother especially since it was made known to the public that she did not her permission for Nik Omar to join politics.

"Everyone knows that Nik Omar was the one who made it public, through newspaper, that he did not get our mother’s blessings to contest in the elections.

"However, just a few weeks later, he went against his own words (by contesting), which clearly signified that my brother openly went against our mother’s wishes,” he said.

He said Nik Omar’s decision has caused embarrassment and shame to Tuan Sabariah, especially when she is forced to face the public.

"This has triggered a stern reaction my mother which none of us have ever seen from her before. And it goes on until today. There’s no need for me to give more details,” he said.

Nik Abduh, however, confirmed that the restriction does not affect their family relationships.

"Our relationship is as normal. Every weekend we would gather at home to have dinner with our mother. We continue to bond then.

"Our siblings would always pray for him. We know him just as much as he knows us, compared to anybody else. What more, our mother,” he said, referring to Nik Aziz’s 10 children.

He said this issue may appear trivial to others, but not to him as he and his siblings were raised with the guidance of religious principles by their late father and grandfather.

"A mother’s blessing is more than the blessings of 5 or 10 million Malaysians. A mother will always win in the name of Allah.

"I also hope all of you would make doa for us in this holy month of Ramadan,” he said.