PAS spiritual leader and former Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat passed away in his home at 9.45pm on Thursday.
The 84-year-old political stalwart had been suffering from prostate cancer. An hour before his passing, Nik Aziz had reportedly been sent back to his home in Kota Baru. Doctors at Kubang Kerian’s Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) had taken him off respiratory support, The Malaysian Insider reports.
“His health deteriorated after the doctors treated the ulcer last night,” said a statement from his son and Pasir Mas MP Nik Abduh.
Born on Jan 10, 1931 in Pulau Melaka, Kelantan, Nik Aziz received his early education from his father and later studied at the Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, India for five years, majoring in Arabic Studies. He then went on to complete a Master’s degree in Islamic jurisprudence from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
He then taught religious classes and joined PAS in 1967, later becoming the longest serving Kelantan menteri besar — from 1990 to 2013.
Nik Aziz could also converse in English, Arabic, Tamil, Urdu.
