Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has been missing his weekly religious talks at Kelab PAS in Kota Bharu, which has caused speculation on his position as the state leader.

Despite party officials maintaining that the 73-year-old politician's absence was nothing new and that his health was not the reason for this, it has failed to dispel uncertainty felt by party leaders and supporters about continuity in the state administration.

The leadership transition in Umno from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi which went through without a hitch in October 2003 has also added pressure to political rival PAS.

PAS Kelantan Youth chief Zulkafli Yaakob said there have been repeated calls by members and supporters for the state leadership to provide some certainty on what it plans for the future.

"This is because people want to know who will be replacing Tuan Guru (Nik Aziz). They want some certainty," he told malaysiakini .

"Of course we pray for his good health, and we want him to continue as long as he can, but a leadership transition cannot be avoided. It will happen sooner or later."

He felt that such requests are not out of bounds considering that the next general election is less than three years away.

"PAS has to be prepared for the 2008 elections. Umno has already started its strategy to snatch Kelantan away from us. So, if there is to be a leadership transition we must do it properly and correctly so that it will not hurt the administration and the party's chances in keeping the state government," he said.

He said there are factions in the party who believe that the anxiety would only be eliminated when Nik Aziz announces the name of his successor.

"As I said, it is all about certainty. Of course there are others who believe there is no need for Tuan Guru to make such an announcement because the way the state line-up is working is assurance enough that it is going to be a smooth transition."

'Nothing odd'

Certain quarters have claimed that it is odd for the issue to have become a hot topic in Kelantan, barely three months after Nik Aziz had dismissed media speculation that he had resigned due to health reasons following a heart attack.

However, Zulkafli said there was nothing strange about the situation because party members and supporters have come to terms with the fact that the leader who has been heading the state since 1990, would eventually have to leave.

As to who should take over, the Youth leader said he believed that the decision is best left to the central working committee.

"The Youth movement in the state believes that PAS central committee members - headed by president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ) - must decide on who should lead the state. Of course, Tuan Guru's opinion on this matter should also be considered but the central committee must make the final decision as this can avoid allegations of favouritism and cronyism from arising."

The talk on transition had also led to a tussle emerging as to whether the choice of a new leader should come from the progressive group or the old guard.

"The old guard rely on the concept of leadership by ulama (religious scholars) and believe that another scholar must be chosen to replace Nik Aziz. But the other faction believes that the concept should not be read in such a narrow way," said a Kelantan politician.

Another Kelantan PAS youth leader, Wan Azimin Wan Adnan said that there is a need for the party to clarify the meaning of the concept.

"After the muktamar (general assembly), it was obvious that the concept is still a grey area. Does the concept mean that the leader must be an ulama , complete with jubah (robe)and skullcap? Or does it refer to a person who is free of corruption, is religious and has the ability to lead and administer the state?"

The Syariah lawyer, who is also PAS Kota Bharu Youth secretary.,said the majority of Youth members favour the latter.

"The concept does not necessarily means that the leader must be someone who has the title of ustaz and is an ulama . I believe what is more important is that the person is clean, capable and has the support of the people. And that is how the party should decide in picking the next Kelantan leader," said Wan Azimin.

Another Youth leader claimed that PAS Kelantan must not make the mistake of appointing an ulama without good administration skills.

"If you ask any layman in Kelantan about this, they would tell you that they want their next leader to be someone who is not only clean of corruption and is religious but also capable of taking care of their welfare," he said.

"They want someone who is capable of nurturing the state's economic growth. If the party appoints anyone who does not fit the bill, it would betray the trust of the people. We could end up losing the state in the next election."