K'tan turmoil: Two Nik Aziz's aides to be axed

Abdul Rahim Sabri
Dec 29, 09

The rift in Kelantan PAS has taken a turn for the worst as Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is at the verge of sacking two of his two long-time political aides.

The media have recently been abuzz about this latest development which involved political secretary Anual Bakhri Haron and press secretary Mohd Saiba Yaakob, whose positions will be determined at PAS Dewan Harian this afternoon.

Speaking to Malaysiakini this morning, Anual confirmed the news but stressed that he had “no problems” in relinquishing his post.

“Besides, I have talked about this (resignation) before... I have served (Nik Aziz) for over 10 years,” he said.

When asked whether his contract termination has anything to do with the ongoing internal feud within the Kelantan state government, he replied: “I would not go that far (to describe it).”

The unease in the state government also went up a notch when senior exco Husam Musa, who is considered Nik Aziz's protégé, launched an indirect criticism against his boss, suggesting that government leaders should separate political interests from family interests.

Husam, in a blog posting yesterday, said two former prime ministers - Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - were seen to put the interest of their own family members above that of the nation.

He did not however touch on the accusation that Nik Aziz was practising cronyism in appointing his son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Ab Rahman as head of a strategic state government-linked company.

As calls for Abdul Ariffahmi to quit grow louder, Nik Aziz's daughter Nik Amalina (left) attacked PAS leaders for failing to defend her husband in the face of graft allegations.