KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 ― Preacher Datuk Mohd Kazim Elias today admitted to being offered to contest in the 14th general election, but said he rejected the offer as he loved his tahfiz school more.

In a Facebook post today, Kazim said he also has no interest in joining politics and taking part in the election, as he is more comfortable being a preacher who is able to travel to talk about Islam.

“I admit I was offered to contest in the election this time around, and I declined the offer politely, because of my love for Pusat Pendidikan Al Barakah which I founded 12 years ago, because of my stand, that is to only become a preacher, and I am not a member in politics.

“I was approached by various parties and individuals to foster a relationship, and as a preacher I welcomed all the visits, courtesy calls, and even gave and took advice,” he said.

Kazim said he did join a political party previously, but is currently comfortable being an independent preacher, with no intentions of joining any political parties, for now.

“Even as an independent candidate, I am not keen because politics is not my field, and let those who are well-versed in it deal in the field,” he said, adding that he holds a bigger responsibility to care for the 1,000 students and 67 staff members of his school.

Kazim said that he was also offered to sit in the Supreme Council of a party, adding that he rejected the offer ― but did not name the party.

Sinar Harian today published a report citing “rife rumours” that Kazim, and his two politician brothers would be contesting an independent candidates in Lumut.

Quoting a source, the report claimed that Kazim might be contesting for the Lumut parliamentary seat, and the Selama state seat.

His brothers Datuk Mohd Najmuddin Elias and Ahmad Hasbullah are the Larut Umno division deputy chief and the Kubu Gajah incumbent state assemblyman, respectively.

The report further quoted the anonymous source saying that last week, six voting districts in the Kubu Gajah state assembly had protested, demanding that Ahmad be listed again as the area's candidate, after he was dropped.

The group reportedly claimed that it would urge Ahmad to contest as an independent candidate, if Umno does not heed its demand.