Fresh from Senate appointment, Nik Abduh denies PAS sidelined him

JOHOR BY-ELECTIONS | Former Bachok MP Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz who has just been appointed to the Dewan Negara to represent Kelantan, has denied that PAS had been sidelining him recently.

The son of former Kelantan menteri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat said his previous spell of inactivity was due to taking a temporary break from politics.

"It's not about being left out. That is the media story. I am the one who applied to withdraw from the beginning and it started with me withdrawing from defending the Bachok parliamentary seat for reasons I have already explained.

"Even in the period after I did not contest, PAS asked me to contest again. But, I had again asked to take time off so that I could take care of some of my affairs.

"So, there is no question of me being sidelined by the party leadership. That's just a statement made by the media," Nik Abduh (above) said.

He reiterated this to reporters after the announcement ceremony of Perikatan Nasional's bid for the Simpang Jeram state seat, which was themed 'Prosperous and Educated Simpang Jeram', at the Bakri PAS Office, Muar, earlier today.

Nik Abduh was appointed to the Dewan Negara to represent Kelantan after Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud nominated him and received the support of his deputy Mohamed Fadzli Hassan.

Kelantan state assembly speaker Mohd Amar Abdullah then put the proposal to a vote before the state assembly members with a majority accepting the proposal.

The appointment of Nik Abduh was to replace Mohamad Affandi Mohamad whose term in the Dewan Negara expired on July 7.

‘Fasting’ from politics

Nik Abduh was previously reported to be interested in contesting but was targeting only the Chempaka state seat - once represented by his father.

However, his name was not included as one of the PAS-PN candidates in last month's state polls.

This caused Nik Aziz's brother, who is also Nik Abduh's uncle - Nik Din Nik Mat - to urge the public not to vote for Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner Mohd Amar who contested the Panchor state seat.

Not long after that, Nik Abduh announced that he was 'fasting' from political activities on July 31.

But the 'fast' did not last and he only abstained for about two weeks which ended on Aug 8.

Nik Abduh is a former MP for Pasir Mas and Bachok as well as a former PAS Youth wing chief.

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