Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak is currently in hospital as a result of "exhaustion", PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said today.

In a statement today, he said Azizan is warded at the Kedah Medical Centre in Alor Setar for observation and was first hospitalised on Aug 25.

NONE "The doctor found that Azizan to be exhausted because he was involved in too many programmes during the fasting month," Mustafa said in a statement.

He said that the 70-year-old was advised to "avoid strenous work" and not to chair any key meeting while still under observation.

"For the time being, the doctor has advised him to stay at the hospital so that he can get sufficient rest, make sure he takes his medication and has a healthy diet," Mustafa said.

He added that Azizan was likely to call for an executive council meeting at hospital soon, upon the doctor's advice.

'Nothing to worry about'

"Kedahans and PAS members need not worry about their MB," said Mustafa, who had spoken to Azizan and his doctor during a visit to the hospital recently.

The PAS secretary-general's statement comes a day after Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang reportedly called for a deputy MB to be appointed to allow Azizan some rest.

Concerns over Azizan's well-being were raised when he failed to turn up at his own Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at his official residence at Seri Mentaloon on Aug 25.

According to the New Straits Times , Azizan was absent after suffering an allergic reaction to his medication.

The menteri besar's aide, Mohd Helmi Khalid, had then denied that Azizan was hospitalised.

Helmi told The Star last Wednsday that Azizan's condition had improved and that the MB was raring to get back to work.

Azizan was speculated to be unfit for office when he was hospitalised for two weeks around the same time last year.