Rayer said he made the same proposal during the Perikatan Nasional-led administration.

“I respect Nik Aziz because even though he was a PAS leader, he never issued statements that would hurt the feelings of other ethnic groups.

“He never made statements that caused dissatisfaction among the Chinese and Indians,” he said in Dewan Rakyat while debating the Supply Bill 2023 at the committee stage today.

Rayer said, of late, opposition MPs had been making statements that could cause division among Malaysians.

He urged opposition leaders, including Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) and Abdul Hadi Awang (PN-Marang), to emulate Nik Aziz.

“I reiterate my proposal (to make Nik Aziz a unity icon). If it wasn’t done by PN, by PAS, then let’s do it. Let’s make him an icon for national unity,” he said.

He urged the government to prepare and distribute reading material to show how the rights of the Chinese and Indians in Kelantan were protected when Nik Aziz was menteri besar.

Nik Aziz was the PAS spiritual leader from 1991 until his death in 2015. He was also the longest-serving Kelantan menteri besar after helming the state from 1990 to 2013.

Rayer also slammed Dr Mahathir Mohamad and said national unity was “worse than before” during his two terms as prime minister.

He also urged Mahathir to stop his attacks on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.

“Please, Tun, give us a break. Please rest. Allow Tambun (Anwar) to carry on with the administration. Enough is enough,” he said.

On March 4, Mahathir was reported by FMT as saying that Anwar’s first 100 days as prime minister had yet to yield any results.

The former Langkawi MP said Anwar had only made empty promises about reviving the economy and resolving issues affecting the Malays.

Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) then asked how many times Rayer had actually met with Nik Aziz.

“We all know that he (Rayer) is only playing with sentiments,” he said.