PAS must push for hudud even with Nik Aziz gone, says Hadi
(Malay Mail Online) – PAS must redouble its efforts to enforce hudud in Kelantan in the wake of its spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s death, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said.
He added that the onus was now on the Islamist party to see through the controversial law, saying it was the wish of the former Kelantan mentri besar ― who died Thursday ― who espoused “Islamic values” and had laid the foundation for its implementation.
“His departure has left a strong foundation and the Muslim generation of today must continue his efforts.
“Among them is to implement the Shariah Enactment in Kelantan state law, this is a responsibility which must be continued,” Hadi said in a statement on his Facebook page.
The PAS chief stressed that Nik Aziz was a pious Ulama who was against all “foreign ideologies.”
Nik Aziz’s son, Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz had said his father’s last message to his family was that he wanted to see the fight Islam to continue in Malaysia.
According to the Pasir Mas MP, it was the last advice and message the PAS spiritual adviser had for his family before he passed away on Thursday night, Malay daily Berita Harian reported today.
“My father wanted the struggle to carry on besides asking that the struggle to uphold Islam is continued.
“That was his last message to the family,” Nik Abduh was quoted saying.
PAS and DAP have been locking horns over the Islamist party’s plans to enforce hudud in Kelantan and more recently, DAP’s proposal for PR to adopt Penang’s approach and enact state laws in Selangor and Kelantan to try to return the third vote to Malaysians.
PAS, however, has accused the DAP of acting unilaterally in seeking to restore local council elections, in apparent retaliation to the latter’s vehement attacks over the Islamist party’s hudud ambition.
PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz died on Thursday night at his home in Pulau Melaka, weeks after he was readmitted to the hospital due to his ailing health.
Nik Aziz, 84, was Chempaka state assemblyman. He won the seat in the 13th general election with a 6,500 vote-majority.
His death will trigger a by-election, although the Election Commission (EC) will have to first make an official announcement on the matter.
The PAS spiritual leader, who suffered from prostate cancer, was admitted in January after his health deteriorated during the recent floods.
Nik Aziz led the Kelantan PAS government for 23 years until 2013, when he stepped down from office and was succeeded by Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.
The veteran Islamist party leader was popular even among non-Muslim supporters of federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat.
