Memories of PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is popularly known as Tok Guru, will live on despite his death, said PKR vice-president Tian Chua.

"His wisdom, courage and leadership are immortal. Tok Guru's wisdom is something which everyone will remember," he told the audience at a forum at the Malaysiakini office late last night.

According to the Batu MP, Nik Aziz's courage had inspired him to work harder.

"I am deepy saddened over his passing. It happened after a very sad event of Anwar Ibrahim's imprisonment, and now Tok Guru has left us.

"However this is not going to discourage us. This will only make us stronger," he said.

Tian Chua also pointed out that Nik Aziz "overcame the demonisation of an Islamic party" by breaking the narrow and negative perception that Islam is something to be feared.

"He showed us the universal beauty of Islam as a value that can be shared amongst us," he said of the former Kelantan menteri besar.

Former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan, who was also one of the panelists at the forum, described Nik Aziz as "a strong fighter" who was present at every major elections.

"He was such an inspiration to all of us. He was a calm personality and said the right things at the right time," she said.

Another panelist, PAS central committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa said Nik Aziz’s death was a huge loss to the party.

"He was the party's highest ranking member. He shaped the political landscape of an Islamic party," he added.

The Parit Buntar MP, who was visibly distraught, described Nik Aziz as an instrumental and influential leader of the opposition bloc.

"This is such a testing period. We just saw Anwar jailed and today, we received news of Tok Guru's death," he added.

News of his passing was announced midway during the forum, which led the panelists and audience to observe a minute of silence.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Court upheld Anwar’s sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence.

In April last year, Pakatan Rakyat also lost another influential leader, Karpal Singh, who died in a road accident.