Nik Aziz, 84, dies

PETALING JAYA: Former Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat passed away at 9.45pm on Thursday. He was 84.

He passed away on Malam Jumaat (an auspicious day to Muslims)," said a statement from PAS. Muslims refer to Thursday night as Malam Jumaat (Friday night) immediately after maghrib prayers.

His son, Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh, confirmed Nik Aziz's death via Twitter.

Nik Aziz, who was the Chempaka assemblyman, had been warded at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian after suffering a stroke. He also suffered from prostate cancer.

He was brought home to the house he has always lived in Pulau Melaka at about 8.40pm before he breathed his last.

Nik Aziz, PAS spiritual leader, was born on Jan 10, 1931 in Pulau Melaka, Kelantan. 

He furthered his studies at Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, India for five years and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies and Master of Arts in Islamic jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.

Nik Aziz was able to converse in Arabic, English, Tamil and Urdu.

Second among five siblings, he joined PAS in 1967 and helmed the Kelantan government for 23 years as Chempaka assemblyman under the Pengkalan Chepa constituency.

Nik Aziz retired as Kelantan's Mentri Besar in 2013 and was replaced by his deputy, Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

He was married to Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak and had 10 children.

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