by Looi Sue-Chern
The Malaysian Insider
12 February 2015
Minutes after news of his passing tonight, social media users, including national leaders and politicians, tweeted their condolences to the well-respected PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak expressed his sadness that Nik Aziz has passed on.
“Innalillahiwainnailaihirajiun. Saya sedih mendengar Tok Guru Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat telah pulang ke rahmatullah. Al-Fatihah.”
(I am sad to hear that Tok Guru Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat has returned to be with God. Al-fatihah.)
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang tweeted that Nik Aziz’s passing was a great loss.
“Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat’s passing a great loss to nation. Deepest condolence to bereaved family. RIP. Al-FATIHAH,” he tweeted at 10.27pm.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also tweeted: “Takziah kpd keluarga bekas MB K’tan Tok Guru Nik Aziz dan PAS serta ahli dan penyokong.”
(Condolences to the family of ex-Kelantan menteri besar Tok Guru Nik Aziz and PAS, as well as its members and supporters.)
Former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim tweeted: “Didoakan semoga Tuan Guru Nik Aziz @nikabdulaziz terus di dalam pemeliharaan Allah SWT.”
(I pray that Tuan Guru Nik Aziz will remain in the preservation of Allah.)
PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar wrote on Twitter: “Allahummagfirlahum warhamhum wa’afihim wa’fuanhum – semoga Tok Guru Nik Aziz ditempatkan bersama para anbiya’ – kami terus merindui.”
(May Tok Guru Nik Aziz be placed among the prophets. We will miss him.)
Parit Buntar MP and PAS national unity committee chairman Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa wrote a simple message to Nik Aziz after he tweeted his condolences.
“Selamat berehat Tok Guru (Rest well Tok Guru),” he wrote and posted a black and white photo of the revered leader.
PKR Youth deputy chief and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, also tweeted his condolences.
“Al-Fatihah, Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz yang kita kasihi telah pergi meninggalkan kita selamanya.Nyata dua kesedihan besar minggu ini.”
(Al-Fatihah, our beloved Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz is gone forever. Clearly two big miseries this week.)
Nik Aziz, who was formerly Kelantan menteri besar, died at 9.45pm today, an hour after he was sent home to Kota Baru from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian, where doctors took him off respiratory support. He had been suffering from prostate cancer.
His death is the second major blow for Pakatan Rakyat this week. Two days ago, opposition leader and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was found guilty for sodomy and is now serving a five-year jail sentence.
Messages of condolences also poured over Twitter as the public expressed their sadness.
Independent journalist and blogger Anil Netto wrote: “I will always remember Tok Guru Nik Aziz for his utter simplicity, his humble lifestyle and his openness to inter-religious dialogue.”
Ami amilia tweeted: “Innalillah.. moga roh arwah Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat ditempatkan di kalangan orang2 yg beriman.. Amin..” (May Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s soul be place with those who are faithful. Amen.)
Kimie tweeted: “Al-fatihah walaupun perjuangan parti berbeza tapi kite tetap seagama .. al-fatihah datuk seri nik aziz .. semoga dicucuri rahmat.” (Al-fatihah. Although our political parties’ struggles are different, we are of one faith. Al-fatihah Datuk Nik Aziz. May you be blessed.)
Erfan Daniel posted his tribute tweet of three simple words for the deceased leader. He wrote: “Old but gold.” – February 12, 2015.
Not to put light on the mourning and outpouring, but the question really is how does his death affect PAS and its relation with Pakatan? On one hand, his death loses one of the biggest advocate of Pakatan but on the other hand, he leaves behind a legacy that the conservatives in PAS can’t simply brush aside in fighting with Pakatan.
The biggest shame is that DAP did not get some sort of word from Nik Aziz over local council election – that would have made it much easier to blind side the conservatives in PAS who are disingenous about their issues with DAP. The real hope of putting these conservatives in the bottle is proving their disingenuity not fight over the issues they raise.
its very likely they will go further down the path of disingenuity – falsely painting Nik Aziz stand on Pakatan to get over the problem of his strong support. That will create further problems and while PR fights these fires, the opportunity is being lost to really go after UMNO and Najib at his weakest..
Sad day, for all of us..