Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat

Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat (Jawi: نئ عبدالعزيز بن نئ مت‎; 10 January 1931 – 12 February 2015) was a Malaysian politician and Muslim cleric. He was the Menteri Besar of Kelantan from 1990 to 2013 and the Mursyidul Am or Spiritual Leader of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1991 until his death in 2015. Overall, his career as an elected politician lasted for some 48 years following his election to the Parliament of Malaysia in 1967.

Yang Berbahagia Tuan Guru Dato' Bentara Setia Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat SJMK KMN JP
نئ عبدالعزيز نئ مت‎
12th Menteri Besar of Kelantan
In office 22 October 1990 – 6 May 2013
Monarch	Sultan Ismail Petra Sultan Muhammad V
Deputy	Ahmad Yaakob
Preceded by	Mohamed Yaacob
Succeeded by	Ahmad Yaakob
2nd Spiritual Leader of PAS
In office 1991 – 12 February 2015
Preceded by	Yusof Rawa
Succeeded by	Haron Din
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Pengkalan Chepa
In office 1974–1986
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Nik Abdullah Arshad
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Kelantan Hilir
In office 1967–1974
Preceded by	Ahmad Abdullah
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the Kelantan State Assembly for Chempaka
In office 1995 – 12 February 2015
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Ahmad Fathan Mahmood
Member of the Kelantan State Assembly for Semut Api
In office 1986–1995
Preceded by	Wan Mamat Wan Yusof
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
PAS Head of the Ulama Wing
In office 1971–1995
Kelantan Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party Commissioner
In office 1978–2013
Succeeded by	Ahmad Yaakob
Personal details
Born	Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat 10 January 1931 Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	12 February 2015 (aged 84) Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Resting place	Tanah Perkuburan Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Political party	Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
Other political affiliations	Alliance (1972-1973) Barisan Nasional (BN) (1973-1978) Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) (1990-1996) Barisan Alternatif (BA) (1999-2004) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2008-2015)
Spouse(s)	Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak (m. 1963-2015, his death)
Relations	Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (nephew) Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (nephew) Ahmad Dusuki Abdul Rani (nephew)
Children	Nik Aini Nik Omar Nik Adli Nik Abdul Rahim Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Adilah Nik Mohamad Asri Nik Amani Nik Amalina Nik Asma' Salsabila
Parents	Nik Mat Raja Banjar Aminah Abdul Majid
Alma mater	Al-Azhar University Darul Uloom Deoband

Early life

Nik Abdul Aziz was born in Kota Bharu in 1931 as the second of five siblings. He was raised by a single father (Tok Kura) who was an aspiring blacksmith.[1] Nik Aziz's Islamic studies began in pondok schools in Kelantan and Terengganu.[2] He went on to study at Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, India for five years. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies and Master of Arts in Islamic jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University, Egypt. During his university studies, he was one of the witnesses and a civilian to have lived in the heat of the Arab-Israeli Conflict.[3]

Having returned from Egypt, Nik Aziz began as a teacher at various religious schools in Kelantan, hence his popular nickname "Tok Guru."[2]

Political career

Nik Aziz joined PAS in 1967. He contested and won the Kelantan Hilir parliamentary seat by-election in that same year, and held the seat (later renamed Pengkalan Chepa) until 1986.[2] In 1982, he was part of a movement by young members to bring change to the party leadership. PAS had lost the Kelantan state elections in 1978 and, as PAS state commissioner, Nik Aziz began to question president Asri Muda's leadership. Finally, in the PAS Muktamar (General Assembly) that year, Asri was forced to resign.[3]

After stepping aside from federal politics, Nik Aziz won a seat in the Kelantan State Assembly in the 1986 general elections. In 1990, PAS managed to wrest control of Kelantan back from Barisan Nasional. In his capacity as party leader in the state, Nik Aziz became Menteri Besar of Kelantan.[2] He succeeded Yusof Rawa as spiritual leader of PAS in 1991.

Nik Aziz's government was re-elected on four occasions (1995, 1999, 2004, 2008), until his retirement in 2013. During the 1990s, his administration in Kelantan frequently clashed on the role of Islam in Malaysia with the then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. In contrast with the racially exclusive ruling party UMNO, he openly rejected communal politics.[4]

Nik Aziz commanded support from a large number of non-Muslims in Malaysia and played a leading role during PAS' increase in popularity among non-Muslims.[5][6][7]

In May 2013, Nik Aziz publicly stated that he did not consent on any co-operation between United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) as long as he was alive.[8] However, in September 2019, when PAS and UMNO signed the formal charter of alliance, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang claimed that Nik Aziz had already consented to the cooperation while he was alive.[9]

Issues

The "Allah" issue

In 2012, there was an issue of Catholics in Malaysia using the Arabic term for "God"; "Allah" in their Christian Bible. Initially, Nik Aziz stated that the word "Allah" can be used by non-Muslims as the origin of the word itself is evidently pre-Islamic. The issue caused a stir in the Muslim community. The PAS party was almost divided into two blocs; one that supported the use of the word, and one that did not. Aiming to restore unity in PAS, Nik Aziz took back his words and disapproved of the word "Allah" being used by non-Muslims.[10]

Son detained under ISA

His son Nik Adli was held under the Malaysian Internal Security Act in 2001 for alleged terrorist activities including planning jihad, possession of weapons, and membership in the Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), an Islamist extremist group.[11][12][13][14] After 5 years in detention without trial, he was released.[15]

Retirement and death

Nik Aziz retired as Chief Minister of Kelantan at the 2013 election. PAS was re-elected and Nik Aziz's deputy, Ahmad Yaakob, took his place. Over the ensuing two years, Nik Aziz became increasingly ill with prostate cancer, and died on 12 February 2015 (aged 84) at 9.40 p.m. Malaysia Standard Time (UTC+08:00); at his residence in Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu. The following day, more than 10,000 people attended his funeral at Masjid Tok Guru, his local mosque.[16] His death triggered the Kelantan State Assembly seat of 2015 Chempaka by-election.[17]

Election results

Parliament of Malaysia

Year	Constituency	Opposition		Votes	Pct	Government		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1967	Kelantan Hilir		Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	11,855	57.97%		Tengku Noor Asiah Tengku Ahmad (UMNO)	8,596	42.03%	20,737	3,259	74.84%
1969			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	13,635	60.73%		Mohamed Salleh Ibrahim (UMNO)	8,817	39.27%	23,183	4,818	74.64%
1974	Pengkalan Chepa		Umar Ibrahim (IND)	4,682	26.12%		Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)^1	13,243	73.88%	19,278	8,561	62.10%
1978			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	11,897	54.53%		Muhammad Noor Ali (UMNO)	9,919	45.47%	N/A	1,978	N/A
1982			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	16,759	59.48%		Hassan Harun (UMNO)	11,417	40.52%	28,907	5,342	78.73%
1986	Bachok		Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	16,347	49.59%		Mohd. Zain Abdullah (HAMIM)	16,617	50.41%	33,627	270	80.08%

Note: ¹ PAS were in the Alliance (1972–1973) and later Barisan Nasional (1973–1978) coalition government.

Kelantan State Legislative Assembly

Year	Constituency	Government		Votes	Pct	Opposition		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1986	Semut Api		Hafsah Osman (UMNO)	4,094	39.64%		Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	6,233	60.36%	10,754	2,139	74.97%
1990			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	9,504	79.10%		Wan Mat (UMNO)	2,511	20.90%	12,341	6,993	76.22%
1995	Chempaka		Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	7,851	72.80%		Yusuf Isa (UMNO)	2,934	27.20%	11,413	4,917	74.80%
1999			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	8,649	74.48%		Ropli Ishak (UMNO)	2,302	19.82%	11,801	6,347	78.26%
2004			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	7,889	65.10%		Ruhani Mamat (UMNO)	4,195	34.62%	12,407	3,694	81.47%
2008			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	9,514	64.13%		Nik Mohd Zain Omar (UMNO)	5,265	35.49%	15,077	4,249	84.62%
2013			Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (PAS)	12,310	67.92%		Wan Razman Wan Abdul Razak (UMNO)	5,810	32.06%	18,360	6,500	85.94%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1974)[18]
•  Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato' (1995)[18]

References

1. Zulkifli Sulong (3 July 2010). "Meet Nik Aziz's brother, the teacher with a dream". Harakah. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
2. Menteri Besar Kelantan, Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS), archived from the original on 22 July 2011, retrieved 13 June 2010
3. Abdul Razak Ahmad (8 May 2007). "76 and frail, yet he's still the one they want". New Straits Times. New Straits Times Press.
4. Shazwan Mustafa Kamal (9 June 2010). "Nik Aziz says 'no way' to PAS-Umno unity talks". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
5. Wong, Chin Huat (27 August 2009). "Can PAS manage victory?". The Nut Graph.
6. Shazwan Mustafa Kamal (10 June 2010). "PAS succession plan not an issue, says Nik Aziz". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
7. Zubaidah Abu Bakar (8 June 2010). "Pas fishing for non-Malay votes". New Straits Times.
8. "Tiada Penyatuan PAS-UMNO selagi saya hidup (There will no no cooperation between PAS and UMNO as long as I am alive" (in Malay). Harakah Daily. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
9. Nurul, Azwa Aris (14 September 2019). "PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz had agreed on cooperation, says Hadi". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
10. The Star. "Nik Aziz makes about-turn on ‘Allah’ use", Kota Bahru, 15 Januari 2013. Retrieved on 26 February 2013.
11. Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) GlobalSecurity.org
12. Wong, Chun Wai; Charles, Lourdes (2 January 2003). "Nik Aziz's son named in report". The Star (Malaysia).
13. Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia Novelguide.com
14. Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups US Department of State
15. MacIntyre, Ian; Zulklifli, C.A. (19 October 2006). "Nik Aziz's son freed with 10 others". The Star (Malaysia).
16. Lim Sue Goan (14 February 2014). "Pakatan sans Anwar, Nik Aziz". Sin Chew Jit Poh. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
17. "PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz dies, by-election looms". Malay Mail. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
18. "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 22 February 2020.

External links

• Official Blog of Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat
• A Day in a Life of Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat on YouTube