Ex-aide and Nik Aziz's son in war of words

2009/11/28

By Shuhada Elis

KUALA LUMPUR: Issues involving the Kelantan menteri besar's son-in-law have opened the public's eyes to the Kelantan leader's family empire. Blogger Kickdefella, whose real name is Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, claimed in his blog that following revelation of alleged mismanagement by Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated (PMBK) chief executive officer Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman, who is Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's son-in-law, "the public can feel that Pas is rocking in its stronghold state".

"One by one, the revelations are slowly cropping up," he wrote in his latest posting titled Sudah Lewat Untuk Nik Aziz Berundur (It's too late for Nik Aziz to retreat).

Syed Azidi is the former PMBK corporate liaison officer who was removed after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission started an investigation into Ariffahmi for alleged abuse of power.

His controversial postings and expose in his blog were among the reasons prompting the Pas central committee to demand that Nik Aziz remove his son-in-law as the CEO.

A delegation from Pas headquarters, led by party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, conveyed the party's stand that it was against appointing family members in state-owned organisations before Nik Aziz announced his decision on Monday.

Blogger Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, better known as Kickdefella. His controversial postings and expose in his blog were among the reasons prompting the Pas central committee to demand that Nik Aziz remove his son-inlaw as chief executive officer of Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated

Syed Azidi wrote that Hadi had emerged as the true leader in the current internal crisis even though the president was at the receiving end of Nik Aziz's harsh words.

"Hadi is more rational in handling issues which can jeopardise the future of the party, compared with Nik Aziz who often bullied him.

"Now Nik Aziz's words have changed people's perception towards him and there are claims that he is way past his limit (to stay in power)," he said.

He added that the question now was not when Nik Aziz should step down as there was a general feeling that the aging spiritual leader should do so immediately, but the bigger concern was who should be his successor.

Meanwhile, Nik Aziz's son, Nik Mohamad Abduh, slammed Syed Azidi, saying the latter had played a character of the legendary Hang Jebat and had written a "movie script" to topple his father and Ariffahmi.

In his blog, Nik Abduh said Syed Azidi was brought to Kelantan with "VVIP treatment" for two separate missions.

"One was to be with my father to topple Pak Lah's (Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) government, but I will not reveal the other mission," he wrote.

However, Nik Abduh hinted that someone else was behind the plan to topple his family.

"Maybe you (Syed Azidi) are not at fault. It is the person who brought you to Kelantan who is guilty, and now he is trying to cleanse and free himself from you in front of my father," he wrote.

Syed Azidi was the former aide of state executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa, who had brought him to join PMBK.

Nik Abduh also criticised Syed Azidi for backstabbing his father and for not confronting Ariffahmi face-to-face.

"Why did you give roses to my father on the last day but stabbed him the moment you stepped out of Kota Darul Naim? Why didn't you criticise Ariffahmi privately in front of him like I did. No one was threatened by my father for criticising his son-in-law.

"Where is your backbone?"

The "war" in Pas now appears to be fought not only in the many coffeeshops and lounges in Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur and the mainstream media but also in the new media such as blogs.