Nik Aziz Nik Mat
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Dato' Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (born 1931 in Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia) is a Malaysian cleric and an opposition politician from Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS). He is currently Kelantan’s PAS commissioner and the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the state.
He pursued his study majoring in Shari'ah (Islamic Law) at Egyptian Al-Azhar University. During the time of his study, he is one of the witnesses and a civilian to lived in the heat of Arab-Israeli Wars.
He survived his administration even under intense pressure politically and economically by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir, who clashed frequently on the role Islam should or should not play in state- and national-level politics in multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia.
He is generally respected as a positive and well-meaning political leader, but has drawn criticism for his expressed views on the necessity of unequivocal application of Islamic shariah law to all facets and levels of society of Muslims.
Despite his position as Menteri Besar, the head of the Kelantan State, he lives in his small house and leads a very moderate life instead of using an official government residence. Being a prominent figure in the Islamic Party of Malaysia, he receives support from a number of Muslims and non-Muslims in and outside of Kelantan.
