Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has described the call by former Umno information chief Hussein Ahmad o­n him to step down as a reflection of Kelantan Umno's "lack of wisdom" in politics.

He told Bernama today that he would not relinquish his post as Kelantan Menteri Besar as long as the people in the state want him to lead.

He said no individual has the right to ask him to resign except the people of Kelantan who had made their decision through the electoral process.

"I have never asked anyone to step down and likewise no o­ne should ask me (to do so)," he told the national news agency when asked to comment o­n the statement Hussein Ahmad, who had asked him to step down as Menteri Besar for failing to develop Kelantan although he had been given the mandate to do so for three terms since 1990.

Normal in politics

Hussein yesterday said Nik Aziz would command greater respect from the people if he were to opt to become an ulama instead of remaining as Menteri Besar.

Describing Hussein's statement as a reflection of the Kelantan Umno's "lack of wisdom" in politics, the menteri besar said that "if they are smart, then why did the people of Kelantan reject Umno in the 1990 general election and put their trust in PAS".

He, however, added that such statements were normal in politics, that is, pressuring leaders to relinquish their posts.

To date, Nik Aziz has never mentioned that he would step down as menteri besar and there has been no pressure either from within his party PAS o­n him to do so.