Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today squashed earlier reports suggesting that two of his long-time political aides were sacked.

Instead, the PAS leader said that both his political secretary, Anual Bakhri Haron, and press secretary, Mohd Saiba Yaakob, will voluntarily resign from their respective posts.

NONE Nik Aziz, who is also the Kelantan PAS commissioner, has informed the party’s Dewan Harian at its weekly meeting this afternoon in Kota Bharu about the twin resignations.

Speaking to reporters at the menteri besar’s official residence after the meeting, the PAS spiritual leader sought to explain the sudden resignation of his two aides.

“Anual said he wanted to focus more on his writing and his company. Apart from that, he wanted to look after his daughter who has health problems,” Nik Aziz was quoted as saying by Harakahdaily.

Speaking to Malaysiakini after the 90-minute Dewan Harian meeting, PAS Kelantan secretary Mohd Zaki Ibrahim said Anual’s resignation will be effective from Jan 1. Meanwhile, Mohd Saiba’s contract will come to an end in February.

Contacted before the meeting earlier today, Anual told Malaysiakini that he had “no problems” in relinquishing his post.

“Besides, I have talked about this (his resignation) before... I have served (Nik Aziz) for over 10 years,” he said.

When asked whether his termination has anything to do with the ongoing internal feud within the Kelantan state government, he replied: “I would not go that far (to describe it).”

Husam attended Dewan Harian meeting

There has been speculations that Nik Aziz is seeking to replace his two aides with those who are close to members of his family.

The unease in the state government also went up a notch when senior exco Husam Musa, who is considered Nik Aziz's protégé, launched an indirect criticism against his boss, suggesting that government leaders should separate political interests from family interests.

Husam, in a blog posting yesterday, said two former prime ministers - Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - were seen to put the interest of their own family members above that of the nation.

He did not however touch on the accusation that Nik Aziz was practising cronyism in appointing his son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Ab Rahman as head of a strategic state government-linked company.

This had stirred a strong rumour that Husam, who is close to Anual, would be boycotting the Dewan Harian, which is made up of Kelantan PAS top leaders.

This was however denied by Mohd Zaki, who said that Husam did attend the meeting today.