‘Dr M can’t visit Nik Aziz’s grave’
Pakatan chairman can only do so after election, says Tok Guru’s son
KOTA BARU: A third son of the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has entered the political fray by barring Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from visiting the grave of the PAS icon here.
Nik Adli, 51, called the cemetery management to lock the gates to his father’s grave and even got a three-tonne lorry to be parked in front of the Pulau Melaka Muslim cemetery, blocking anyone from going in.
“I do not want to comment further as it can bring slander. This is the family’s wishes,” he said at the cemetery yesterday.
He said Dr Mahathir can visit his father’s grave after the election.
Journalists later learnt that Dr Mahathir’s plan to visit Nik Aziz’s grave yesterday was cancelled.
The visit was supposed to be part of his programme for the day here.
In 2001, Nik Adli was detained under the now-defunct Internal Security Act for his alleged involvement in the Kumpulan Militan Malaysia militant group. He was released in 2006.
His two other brothers are contesting with opposing political parties. Nik Abduh is the PAS candidate for the Bachok parliamentary seat while Nik Omar is contesting the Chempaka state seat under Pakatan.
A relative of Nik Aziz, Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani of PAS, who is contesting the Kota Anggerik state seat in Selangor, said that his family did not want anyone to split them further.
“On behalf of the family, I appeal to everyone not to create any uneasiness.
“We don’t want anyone to betray the legacy of Nik Aziz,” he said.
Met at a separate event, Nik Omar of Amanah said he respected Nik Adli’s decision for the sake of his family.
He said as of now, he himself could not bring anyone to visit his father’s grave.
“We will discuss family matters after the election,” he added.
In his reaction, Dr Mahathir said visiting the cemetery should not be politicised.
“I’ve visited the grave of Datuk Fadzil Noor before this. He was not only the PAS president but my friend.
“But, I don’t want to politicise visiting graveyards,” he said when met here.
Dr Mahathir visited Fadzil’s grave in Kedah on Saturday.
Fadzil’s son Muhammad Faiz said Dr Mahathir and his father had been on different political paths.
“But now, Dr Mahathir has shown his willingness to visit my father’s grave and that is a sign of respect,” he said after Dr Mahathir’s visit to the grave in Muassasah Darul Ulum here.
“My father and Tun Mahathir had a good relationship, especially when Tun was thrown out of Umno in the 1960s.
“They had shared the same stage during ceramah at the time.
“Tun would have come here even if he was not an election candidate anyway,” said Muhammad Faiz.