By C.A. ZULKIFLE and MUHAMMAD IZANI ZAKARIA KOTA BARU: PAS has for the first time acknowledged it was considering replacing Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat after the next general election.
The sight of a frail Tok Guru (spiritual advisor) after being discharged from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia sparked another round of rumours of his retirement especially when he did not table the state's budget on Tuesday but appointed party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa to do so. Nik Aziz, 76, has led the state since 1990. Husam said the party would discuss Nik Aziz's replacement and the qualification the next mentri besar should have. He said the party realised that no one could match Nik Aziz's leadership and religious skills. "The candidate must have excellent leadership skills, contribute good ideas and help develop Kelantan along the party's principle of development through Islam," he told reporters at the lobby of the state legislative assembly building. Asked about the general election, Husam said new faces would be fielded in seats PAS had lost to Barisan Nasional. On why he had tabled the budget instead of Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, Husam said it was his responsibility as state finance, planning committee chairman. In Kuala Lumpur, Kota Baru Umno division acting head Datuk Fatmi Che Salleh told the Umno general assembly that PAS' lack of urgency over a succession plan had caused much confusion. He said some people interpreted Nik Aziz's decision to let Husam table the state budget as an indication that he wanted the economist to succeed him. Fatmi, who is Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's political secretary, said PAS should make it known when Nik Aziz would retire and who his replacement would be.//Thestar
