exclusive In his 19 years as Kelantan menteri besar, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has barely had a hint of public criticism over his management of the state - at least, not from within.

But there was no muting the protest when, in August, he appointed his son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Ab Razak as chief executive officer of Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated.