CHEMPAKA PAS' Chempaka by-election candidate Ahmad Fathan Mahmood @ Mahamad feels "pressured" as winning the by-election means he has "big shoes to fill".

After all, the seat was held by political giant and PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat for two decades prior to his death last month.

But seeing the glass half full, the Pengkalan Chepa native sees the daunting task ahead as “motivation”.

"It's a challenge, having to be responsible for the place of a great figure. But his leadership motivates me to provide better services to the rakyat, should I get elected (as Chempaka state assemblyperson)," Fathan told reporters after making rounds at the homes of Chinese voters yesterday.

If Fathan has anything in common with the late Nik Aziz, it is that he heads a large family.

The long-serving Kelantan MB was father of 10, while Fathan has seven children.

Both were also trained in similar disciplines - Nik Aziz in held a Master’s degree in Islamic jurisprudence while Fathan has a Master’s degree in syariah.

But Nik Aziz won the Kelantan Hilir parliamentary seat at the age of 37 but at 42, Fathan is a veritable greenhorn in politics.

For political observers, Fathan’s debut in the state legislative assembly is almost a given, seeing that BN opted out of the race, leaving PAS to face four independent candidates in its stronghold.

What will he do in the likely event that he is elected Chempaka assemblyperson, come polling day on March 22?

'There'll be no discrimination'

Fathan said he would ensure that that welfare services, which were provided previously, would be continued.

"We will see whether there are other areas that we can help further," said Fathan, who lectures at the Muslim Welfare Organisation’s (Perkim) Institut Dakwah Islamiyah.

Pressed further, Fathan simply said that services provided by the then assemblyperson (Nik Aziz) had already been comprehensive.

"So now, it is only to focus on improving the services," he said.

Like Nik Aziz, who was lauded for building inter-religious and interracial bridges, Fathan is giving his assurance that the same welfare services would be provided to to all.

"Welfare services will be provided just like before. There will be no differences, regardless of race. The late Nik Aziz did the same, and we will continue with his efforts."

Fresh from a walkabout to touch base with Chinese voters, Fathan, who is also Pengkalan Chepa's ulama affairs management secretary, said the response so far has been "positive".

"They (the Chinese in Chempaka) are loyal supporters of the Tok Guru," he said.