Nik Aziz on successor: Wait till I'm 'sick and dead'

Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat continued to hold the card on the succession plan in the state close to his chest, saying the issue was “too early” to be discussed.

The 77-year-old PAS spiritual leader, generally seen as frail after a heart attack in 2004, was coy when pressed on his succession plan in the state which has been ruled by PAS since 1990.

“ Nanti saya sakit mati (wait till I get sick and die),” Nik Aziz, who has just returned from umrah (minor haj) with his family on Monday, told Malaysiakini in an interview on Thursday.

“As long as I am around, I am the menteri besar. When I am dead or relinquish the post, I will choose the right person. It’s too early (to talk about it now),” he added.

The menteri besar said this when asked whether his deputy, Ahmad Yakob, who was appointed to assume the state No 2 post for the second time after the March 8 general election was a signal that the latter was his preferred successor.

Nik Aziz - fondly called ‘tok guru’ - has been quizzed on his succession plan over the past few years amid rising concerns over his health but he has refused to shed any light on the matter.

His charisma, simple lifestyle

A respected religious scholar, the PAS leader who lead a simple lifestyle commands significant influence within the party and political analysts argued his charisma as a leader was one of the main reasons that PAS managed to cling on to power in Kelantan for almost two decades.

Nevertheless, with his failing health - his heart attack in 2004 and having been hospitalised on several occasions over other minor ailments - analysts are saying that a clear leadership succession plan is vital.

After the heart attack, the veteran politician has controlled his diet by taking mostly vegetables and fish. He would only allow himself the pleasure of a small piece of meat once a week, according to his aide.

Nevertheless, he has kept up his schedule by checking into office on weekdays although he has cut down the time by staying only around half a day in office while the rest was spent on visiting constituents or resting at home.

Thursday’s interview in Kelantan, initially slated at the menteri besar’s office, has to be moved to his modest house in Pulau Melaka, which is about a 20-minute drive away from the state’s capital Kota Bahru as he has came down with flu after returning from the umrah.

He appeared frail and soft spoken at the beginning but was in high spirits and cracked jokes at the later part of the interview.

He also said he has never fallen ill after performing his umrah before, attributing the illness this time around to the frequent change of weather in Mecca.

Three frontrunners for post

Prior to his umrah, there were speculations that Nik Aziz will step down upon his return. He has since denied it.

Although the menteri besar has not named his successor, there are three frontrunners for the post - deputy MB Ahmad, PAS vice-president Husam Musa and state PAS liaison committee member Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

Ahmad was made the acting menteri besar recently when Nik Aziz was away for his 13-day umrah, but he however could not discharge his duty as he was hospitalised and underwent an angioplasty after complaining of chest pain.

The post was assumed by Husam, a former long-time aide to Nik Aziz.

Asked on the performance of Husam - a noted young turk in PAS - as acting menteri besar, Nik Aziz said he did not receive any complaint.

The PAS spiritual leader has continually stressed that he would hold the MB post during the interview, giving no sign of any immediate plan to step down.

“I handed over the duties (to Ahmad and Husam) because I was not around in the country. When I am back, I assume the duty again,” said Nik Aziz, who was donned in a white long robe and scull cap.

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