PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar today said that he was not offended after being chided by party spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat for being ‘too smart'.

"I love Tok Guru. I am not offended," he told reporters in Parliament today.

Mahfuz omar handing over to idris ahmad pas hq 220609 01 He was responding to a remark by Nik Aziz, also the Kelantan menteri besar, who reproached the latter for urging Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman to quit his position as the CEO of Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated (PMBK) with immediate effect.

Abdul Ariffahmi, who is Nik Aziz's son-in-law, has been under the spotlight following a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and has said that he would be resigning in March.

On Monday, Mahfuz called upon Nik Aziz to push for Abdul Ariffahmi to exit PMBK as quickly as possible and not to drag on the issue of cronyism in the state administration.

Mahfiz, the Pokok Sena MP, had also urged Nik Aziz to seek the views of the PMBK advisory board in appointing another person to take over Ariffahmi's duties and suggested that Ariffahmi takes a three month leave instead.

Following this Nik Aziz warned Mahfuz not to be "too smart" in asking for Abdul Ariffahmi's immediate removal.

pas nik aziz speech 060609 02 "I am not hurt (by Nik Aziz's rebuke) because I am a young man but I did not see my statement as an opportunity for Umno to politicise the issue," explained Mahfuz today.

"That was why I have said that I made that statement because I love Tok Guru too much and can see Umno and other parties to twist the issue of Abdul Ariffahmi against him.

"That was why I asked Abdul Ariffahmi to immediately relinquish his position," he further said.

He says it again: Ariffahmi should leave now

Abdul Ariffahmi, who was appointed the chief executive officer of PMBK three months ago, announced his intention to resign on Nov 23.

He is expected to submit his resignation letter on Dec 24, giving a three-month notice to the menteri besar and expected to leave the state investment agency by next March.

Mahfuz however added that he did not understand why it was complicated for Abdul Ariffahmi to resign immediately.

"I don't think it is difficult for him to resign because we can refer to Section 12 of the Employment Act 1955. It should not be a problem," said Mahfuz.

azlan "Section 12 is about how we can terminate the contract and I urge Ariffahmi to terminate his contract and the employers can use the same clause.

"If Ariffahmi provides three months' notice then the employer can use Section 12 to give three months' salary to him for him to exit immediately," he reiterated.

Prior to this, Mahfuz had said that Abdul Ariffahmi should be asked to go on leave to prevent him from making decisions which may be binding on his successor.