Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat today refuted a newspaper report which said he was ready to relinquish his post.

His press secretary Mohd Saiba Yaakob said Nik Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual advisor, was only implying that he would not hold on to the position forever.

In a front-page report today, The Star daily said the veteran politician was ready to call it quits as menteri besar as his job as spiritual advisor was tough enough.

The daily quoted him as saying, "My job is to supervise (the party) nationwide, not administer a state . As advisor, my words and actions are watched round-the clock by the whole world.

"If it comes to a point where I feel that I can no longer go on, then I will relinquish the post."

Mohd Saiba said although Nik Aziz has held the post for nearly three terms, PAS supporters have not complained about it.

"Therefore, he may continue for another term if the party requests him to do so," he said.

Successor

The 71-year-old politician became menteri besar after PAS, together with the now defunct Semangat 46 party, seized Kelantan from Barisan Nasional in the 1990 general election.

Concerning his successor should he decide to step down, Mohd Saiba said that will be determined by a committee which Nik Aziz will not be a member of.

He explained that the committee is formed after each general or state election in order to decide who will become menteri besar.