Nik Aziz: No reason to replace S'gor MB

PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat has cautiously thrown his weight behind party president Abdul Hadi Awang's support for Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to remain.

In a guarded statement last night, Nik Aziz said he preferred to focus on the spiritual process of Ramadhan and fasting, but was forced to reply to "endless questions" on his stand in the ongoing Selangor MB issue.

"At first I did not wish to comment on the Selangor menteri besar issue seeing we are at the end of the Ramadhan period, and who knows if we would get to see Ramadhan next year," said Nik Aziz.

"However I was asked repeatedly by the media, especially the last two days about the PAS president's statement defending Khalid as Selagor MB.

Nik Aziz lamented that Ramadhan, which was supposed to be a time to focus on spiritual worship, has instead become a time for "polemics".

"I have read the president's statement and I fully support him.

"I, just like many in the country, ask what wrong Khalid has done that he should be replaced as menteri besar?" he said.

PKR's move to replace Khalid for various reasons appeared to have been going on course with party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim upbeat last week that Pakatan leaders including PAS have agreed to the move.

However Hadi subsequently threw a spanner in the works saying he supports retaining Khalid.

'Captains may be wrong but...'

The veteran PAS leader said Khalid had served his first term with "distinction" leading to the "rise in Selangor's prestige".

"Of course, the question that lingers is, did he suddenly go into decline in his performance of duties?"

Even if he had made undeniable mistakes, said Nik Aziz, did it merit his replacement?

He urged the Pakatan leadership to consider these before "rushing" into a decision.

Reiterating his support for Hadi's decision as the latter is the "captain of the ship", he admitted that captains may sometimes be wrong.

But he cautioned the ship's crew not to "rush to become captains" themselves.

"I am confident Hadi had gotten sufficient information before he issued his statement.

"I myself have gotten information from many quarters, some of which do not need to be explained here.

"Suffice to say, for now PAS must prioritise support for the president's statement.

"True, captains may be wrong, but if the crew all want to be captain, for sure the ship will not sail smoothly," said the spiritual leader.