The issue of ‘cah keting’ (Kelantanese word for sabotaging), the practice of which Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has admitted to exist, indicates that Kelantan PAS is having a leadership crisis, according to political analysts.

They view the several issues that arose of late as attempts by certain quarters to tarnish the credibility of the Kelantan menteri besar and PAS spiritual leader.

NONE "'Cah keting' is not a new issue. Perhaps the real issue is the leadership crisis in Kelantan PAS, on who is to replace Nik Aziz," said political analyst assoc prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian today.

While the national political climate is stable, Kelantan politics is rather "turbulent" with new issues cropping up since last November starting with the one involving Nik Aziz's son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman, who was accused of misappropriation and abuse of power in Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated (PMBK) which he helms.

He was asked to resign from his CEO post at PMBK by Nik Aziz on the advice  of the party's central body after Abdul Ariffahmi was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over the allegations.

On Dec 24, Abdul Ariffahmi gave a three-month notice of resignation, which will expire on March 23.  

The issue of a private company's sponsorship of Haj pilgrimage for Nik Aziz also came out in the open. Following the public outcry, Nik Aziz cancelled his Haj plan.

Sivamurugan feels that attempts to mar the PAS leader's credibility have to do with the existence of factions in the party after two decades of PAS rule in Kelantan since 1990.

"It seems that there are groups in PAS which support traditions and those who are against and are more liberal in their outlook, and therefore the attempts to worsen the situation," he said.  

The media had reported issues involving Nik Aziz's son-in-law and the Haj sponsorship for Nik Aziz, also seen as attempts by certain quarters to strain relations between the menteri besar and senior state executive councillor Husam Musa, who regards Nik Aziz as his mentor.

Husam was linked to the son-in-law issue due to his close friendship with former PMBK public relations officer Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, better known as blogger Kickdefella, who exposed the issue.

Of late, the blogger claimed that the state government had to bear millions of ringgit in losses by purchasing the Tok Guru Bazaar complex following alleged irregularity by PMBK under the managerial leadership of Abdul Ariffahmi.

Post-Nik Aziz era

This latest issue, according to Sivamurugan, would be a liability for the state government and perhaps explained why Nik Aziz had included in his ‘doa’ (prayer) for the Almighty to protect the state from ‘cah keting’.

The question of who will replace Nik Aziz has been on everybody's lips in Kelantan; whether his successor will be an ulama like him or a more liberal individual.

For Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussein, Nik Aziz's recent statements on the ‘cah keting’ menace did not mean that the PAS leader was trying to divert attention from the real issues, but was only stating the current reality.

"This is an administrative problem, not a political one," said the political observer.

Prior to this, a number of PAS leaders including its deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa admitted the spread of the ‘cah keting’ culture in the part due to greed for power and influence among some quarters.

Sivamurugan, however, opines that Kelantan PAS' real challenge is keeping its grip on Kelantan in the post-Nik Aziz era.

- Bernama