Despite retaining his Chempaka state seat, longtime Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has relinquished his chief executive post and his deputy Ahmad Yaakob has taken his place.

Rumours had been circulating that Ahmad, who is Nik Aziz’s deputy and Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner I, was said to be about to take his oath of office.

Ahmad, when contacted, said he had not been approached by the palace on the matter.

“I have not been informed by the Kelantan palace. I do not want to comment on the matter,” he said.  

Nik Aziz’s press secretary Ahmad Fadli Shaari, when contacted by Malaysiakini , said that he cannot confirm whether Ahmad would be appointed as the new menteri besar, as rumoured.

“I cannot confirm the matter as this is still being discussed within the party. We will wait until the oath-taking ceremony,” said Ahmad Fadli to Malaysiakini .

Another caretaker exco member, Takiyuddin Hassan, when contacted said speculations on the appointment of a new menteri besar to replace Nik Aziz have been rife in Kelantan.

He admitted that the people have been bombarding him with questions whether Nik Aziz will retire after the May 5 general election after serving as a legislator for 22 years.

Nik Aziz, 82, has been menteri besar for five terms and remains an influential and respected figure throughout the country.

During yesterday’s general election Kelantan PAS won 32 state seats, five seats fewer than the number it had won in 2008.

Meanwhile, China Press reported that Ahmad was sworn in before Sultan Muhammad V, and the ceremony took place at Istana Kubang Kerian at around 4pm, where the state ruler also witnessed the swearing-in of a new deputy menteri besar and a new line-up of state executive councillors.

The new deputy menteri besar is state PAS deputy commissioner II Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

When contacted, Nik Mohd Amar said the decision to name a new menteri besar, for the first time in 22 years, was reached in a consensus fashion after the state PAS committee met last night to discuss the matter.

It was also rumoured that PAS vice-president Husam Musa is not in the list. Husam retained his Salor state seat but lost the Putrajaya parliament seat to Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.