KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat should have a succession plan for his state, pointing out the PAS spiritual advisor should prepare a “second line” of leaders for the elections. Eighty-year-old Nik Aziz recently is contesting the next elections and carry on as MB if PAS wins, as he has for 21 years, a move criticised by state opposition.
“I agree the need to make sure he (Nik Aziz) presents his second line of more younger professionals, more credible leadership,” Anwar (picture) told The Malaysian Insider during a recent interview.
But the PKR defacto leader quickly added that that he “sure” that such plans were already underway, and that the attacks against the PAS leader was because he still enjoyed tremendous support from Kelantan voters.
“Well with Nik Aziz there he still enjoys popular support because he is known as a popular leader who has not squandered wealth.
“That is very important we should not underestimate importance of that. Umno cannot beat him on that score,” said the opposition leader.
The Kelantan Umno leadership is banking on Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad to again lead the coalition in the next election as its mentri besar-designate despite not being as popular as Nik Aziz.
State Umno leaders believe the International Trade and Industry minister’s “squeaky-clean” and “scandal-free” image will help shore up voter support, and have made it a point to burnish the minister’s credentials “every chance” they get in forums and even public events.
Anwar’s remarks on the Kelantan leadership come shortly after he announced that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had already decided on someone to replace him as PR defacto leader should he be jailed on sodomy charges tomorrow.
The former deputy prime minister told Bloomberg in an interview published this past week that PR has put together a contingency plan should the court rule against him.
Embattled PAS leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali has said however that either Nik Aziz or PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang should replace Anwar as opposition leader should he be jailed.
Anwar also said he would raise several issues with Nik Aziz during his next meeting with the Kelantan MB, and that it would include criticisms on the state’s water treatment quality.
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