The Kelantan government will not appoint smokers as members of district councils or local authorities in the state.

Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat said the move was among efforts to inculcate discipline among leaders of government agencies in Kelantan.

“Since the party (PAS) does not pick smokers as candidates, we (the state) will not appoint smokers as members of district councils or local authorities,” he told reporters after presenting letters of appointment to members of local authorities in Kota Baru today.

“I will not pick smokers as district councillors. The same goes for election candidates, unless I don’t know about it,” he said.

Earlier, Nik Aziz rebuked some PAS leaders and supporters who smoke in public while wearing skullcaps to portray their image as Muslims.

“Their action is akin to someone who waves a pistol in public although he doesn’t have a licence for it,” he added.

- Bernama