No consent from palace for Hadi, Nik Aziz to give sermons

KUALA LUMPUR: The plan by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to give sermons at the State Mosque and Perak Islamic Administration Institute Mosque on Friday has not received the consent of the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah.
This was conveyed to Abdul Hadi when he was granted an audience at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar on Thursday.
Comptroller of the Perak royal household Datuk Seri Mansor Raja Razman said in a statement Thursday that this was in line with the stand that the mosques and surau in Perak should be free of any influence from party politics.
He said that only imam who had received accreditation from the Sultan of Perak could give sermons at mosques in Perak. - Bernama

earlier news
Nik Aziz, Hadi to deliver sermons
14/8/08

IPOH: The top two Pas leaders will deliver Friday prayer sermons in separate mosques here tomorrow. Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat will give his sermon at the state mosque while party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will give his at a mosque in Institut Tadbiran Islam Perak.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said the Raja Muda, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, gave his consent for the two leaders, who will be here for the opening of the 54th Pas Muktamar, to give their sermons.
"This is the first time Nik Aziz and Hadi will be addressing Friday prayer congregations in the state.
"Pas expresses its deep gratitude to the Raja Muda for honouring the two leaders," he said here yesterday after chairing the state executive council meeting.
Mohammad Nizar said Raja Nazrin Shah granted the consent when he met the prince yesterday before the start of the state exco meeting.
The New Straits Times learnt this will be the first time politicians have been granted royal consent to deliver Friday prayer sermons in the state.
State Umno leaders said they were surprised with the move, adding that to their knowledge no Umno leaders were given the same opportunity.
One Umno leader, however, said it was the prerogative of Raja Nazrin Shah as the head of the Perak Council of Islamic Religion and Malay Customs to grant consent to anyone to address the Friday prayers congregation.
On another matter, Mohammad Nizar said the state exco had approved land for four surau and mosques, a Chinese temple and a church, adding that more approvals would be given to places of worship in need of land in the state.

tunku : earlier it was reported that Raja Nazrin consented them to give sermon which was very surprising to me. anyway nizar the perak mb has LIED again and again. is this the quality of a pas leader??furthermore he is a menteri besar, he should not have lied especially when it's relating to the istana.