Kelantan mentri besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat had never said that 'I will serve until I die' as reported in a Malay language newspaper, his political secretary Anuar Bakri Haron clarified yesterday.

Anuar accused the paper, Utusan Malaysia, of twisting Nik Aziz's statement on the day of his return from Mecca when responding to questions from reporters on his speculated resignation.

"Tuan Guru (Nik Aziz) was asked by a big group of reporters of the speculation and he said that the Malaysian democratic system allows the people to choose their leader and the people of Kelantan had chosen him.

"He then said. 'Saya nak letak jawatan macam mana? (How can I resign?)'," said Anuar when contacted.

"Then when a reporter asked him if he would hold the post until he dies, Tuan Guru did not immediately answer.

Persistent question

"However, when the reporter persisted, Tuan Guru merely said, 'Itu suara rakyat. Nak buat macam mana? (This is the voice of people. I cannot do anything).'

"But when the report was published in the paper, it became 'I will serve until I die, says Nik Aziz'. That is a fabrication. It is a blatant lie," Anuar stressed.

He urged those who are interested in what the menteri besar actually said to watch the footage of the interview held at the Kota Bharu airport on Nov 30 upon his return from Mecca after performing the umrah.

Anuar also expressed his disappointment with Umno leaders and government ministers for their negative comments based on the Utusan Malaysia report.

"They said so many harsh things without checking their facts. Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein had said that he (Nik Aziz) was arrogant! I wish to tell them that statements based on fallacies are irresponsible."

Asked if he would demand an apology from Utusan Malaysia, he said he would not because he believed it would be a fruitless attempt.

Mature leader

"They have misled people through their articles and news so many times before. When it was later proven that they were wrong, have they apologised? I don't think. Thus, there is no point in wasting my time."

Last week, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang denied an Utusan Malaysia report alleging that Nik Aziz who is also PAS Kelantan commissioner and the party's spiritual advisor had resigned from all political posts.

Apart from the Malay daily, which front-paged the report on Oct 24, the Star and malaysiakini also reported on the resignation.

Asked whether Nik Aziz was troubled by the reports, Anuar said "no".

"He is a very mature politician. When I informed him of the speculation, we were in front of the Kaabah in Mecca. He merely smiled."

Anuar said he believed that Umno will continue to harp on the issue to shake up the PAS Kelantan government.

"They recognise that Nik Aziz is a very influential man and they will continue to focus on him because they believe that it would be shaking up the whole team. They must be hoping that all the attacks would weaken him."

"When a man is weakened, he is prone to making mistakes and will eventually become a liability to the party. That is their hope but unfortunately, that remains wishful thinking. Tuan Guru is much much stronger than that," Anuar said.