Nik Adli, son of Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, had an emotional reunion with his father for the first time in three years since being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He was granted a permission to visit his hospitalised father after a written request from him was approved by the Kamunting detention centre authorities in Perak.

Nik Aziz has been warded at the Kota Baru Perdana specialist hospital's intensive care unit after suffering from a heart attack yesterday morning. He has undergone an angioplasty procedure and his condition is reported to be stable.

Nik Adli, 35, clad in white long sleeves and wearing a skull cap, arrived at the hospital at about 11pm amid tight security. He was escorted by about 20 plainclothes policemen.

At the hospital, he was greeted by PAS leaders including Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Dr Hatta Ramli and Kamarudin Jaffar who had arrived earlier.

He was then brought to meet with the panel of doctors that are treating Nik Aziz and they reminded him not to excite his father too much.

Tears flow

After the briefing, Nik Adli was taken to Nik Aziz's room. The doctors were on standby at the elderly leader's bedside to render aid in the event another myocardial infarction was triggered off by the excitement of seeing his son.

The 73-year-old Nik Aziz has never visited his son during the latter's past three years of incarceration .

Cardiologist Dr Ibrahim Abdullah then woke Nik Aziz who was asleep at that time, whispering into his ears: 'Nik Adli is here, he has arrived'.

Nik Aziz or Tok Guru - as he is affectionately known - opened his eyes slowly and offered his hand to Nik Adli who kissed it as is required in traditional Malay custom.

"We could sense that Tok Guru was very happy and that moment was very touching," the menteri besar's political secretary Anual Bakhri Haron later said.

Father and son then caught up with each other. Nik Aziz speaking softly, asked his son what time he had arrived and how he had been coping at the infamous detention centre.

"Nik Adli, seated on chair at the bedside, shed tears after a while," Anual said.

Better condition

Accompanying Nik Adli were his sisters and brothers. Nik Aziz has five daughters and five sons of whom Nik Adli is the third.

Nik Adli left his father's hospital room about an hour later and took the opportunity to meet up with his wife who was also at the hospital.

It was learnt that one of the reasons that the family agreed to the angioplasty procedure late last night was in view of Nik Aziz's better mental condition following the meeting with his son.

According to another aide of his, the menteri besar felt relieved after meeting Nik Adli.

The ISA detainee was placed at the Kota Baru police station overnight and allowed to visit his father once again this morning before he was sent back to Kamunting.

Nik Adli was detained on August 4, 2001 for alleged links with the Malaysian Mujahidin Group or KMM. His detention order expired last year but he was slapped with a fresh two-year detention order .

Wife treated, too

In another development Nik Aziz's wife, Sabariah Ishak was treated at the same hospital for high blood pressure believed to have been brought on by the stress of her husband's condition.

Meanwhile, Anual said Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaacob would assume the menteri besar's role while Nik Aziz recuperates in hospital.

The state government has said it expects Nik Aziz to stay hospitalised for at least a few weeks.

Anual said Nik Aziz did not have any urgent special duties to attend to in the next two months apart from an umrah trip which has now been cancelled.