(The Sun) PETALING JAYA (April 14, 2008): PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is convinced that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will eventually accept the Islamic state ideology.
In a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily, he stressed that Islam has been "hypnotised" for over a century in Malaysia under the colonial rule, and has even been maliciously described as a negative religion.
The recent anti-Islam film "Fitna" created by Dutch far-right-wing member of parliament Geert Wilders is such an example, he said.
He said Pakatan Rakyat needs some time to accept the Islamic state ideology.
As such, he urged DAP leaders to come to Kelantan to see for themselves what Islam really is; to try to find fault with the state and "tell me where the flaws of Islam are?"
"Are there really problems with Islam? Have I killed the Chinese for Islam? Did I take away Chinese's business licences because I am a Muslim (and they are not)? Or have I chased the Chinese out of Kelantan in the name of Islam?
"I invite them (DAP leaders) to take a trip to Kelantan, (they) don't have to see me, but talk to the Chinese, Indians and Thais here and let these people tell them my misdeeds (if any)."
On PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's recent remark that "Islamic state ideology can be implemented but that some controversial aspects of it, such as the hudud law, will be set aside", Nik Aziz pointed out that the state government had already passed hudud when Kelantan was administered by the PAS-Semangat 46 coalition government (in the early 90s).
"PAS can only formulate the hudud (Islamic criminal law), but has no power and rights to execute it and play judge. These we have to leave to the judges.
"In the trial (under hudud), the judge will make a decision based on submissions by both the defendant and the plaintiff's lawyers. The hudud trial is no different from the civil (criminal) court trial, it cannot be conducted anyhow," he said.
In the interview, Niz Aziz touched on a number of issues, including on:
> Gambling
He urged non-Muslims, especially the Chinese in Kelantan, to forget about gambling as the PAS state government will never lift the gambling ban.
He said the Chinese should not resort to gambling as a means to gain riches. On the other hand, they should make good their business acumen.
"The Chinese are good in business. Go make a living from doing business, be it sundry, food and drinks, textiles, fruits, agro products etc, sell anything but just don't gamble."
> Succession
For the first time Nik Aziz has given three names - Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob, state exco members Datuk Husam Musa and Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah - as likely candidates to succeed him as mentri besar.
The question of 77-year-old Nik Aziz's successor first cropped up several years ago when he was admitted to hospital following a heart attack.
The PAS Tok Guru, who has helmed Kelantan since 1990, said all three candidates are capable of taking over but there is no indication that he will relinquish power during his current term of office.
> The prime minister
Nizk Aziz said he will not be drawn into calling for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's resignation as prime minister, as to do so tantamounts to "personal attack".
Commenting on calls, including by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for Abdullah to step down to take responsibility for the dismal showing by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election, Nik Aziz said: "it is Umno's family affairs, it is up to them (its leaders) to resolve the problem".
> MCA, Gerakan and MIC
Nik Aziz agreed with the views (of some people) that the three BN component parties should leave the coalition.
He believed that if they leave BN, they would join PR without waiting for PR's invitation.
> Chinese support
He said the political scenario has changed so much that Chinese are voting for PAS, Malays are supporting DAP, and Indians are support both. Everyone shares one aim - to reject Umno.
He said he wanted to thank the Chinese for their support.
"I actually like to get close to the Chinese, unless they don't welcome me."
He recalled an occasion when he was invited to a durian feast in a Chinese kampung.
He said he has attended funerals of Chinese friends but he was most impressed with the openness of the Chinese when they joined the Malays in "Bubur Syura" activities.
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