KOTA BHARU: PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said on Friday that he is not interested in taking up the challenge or answering questions from Umno leaders on the issue of PAS' Islamic policies.

He said the decision would remain so long as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who is also Umno president, refused to respond to his official invitation to meet and have an open debate.

He claimed that Umno leaders did not understand anything about PAS' Islamic policies, especially that on the Kelantan state government.

He told Bernama this when asked to comment on Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's statement challenging him to prove his allegations that Umno had not championed Islam.

Muhyiddin who is also deputy prime minister, when addressing the residents of Manik Urai two days ago, was reported as saying that history had proven that Umno, which was established on May 11, 1946, had championed Islam earlier than PAS by fighting for independence, which also a fardu kifayah (communal duty in Islam). (Bernama)