Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat: Malaysian opposition leader and Muslim cleric who imposed Islamic law as state legislator of Kelantan

The revered spiritual leader helped bolster unity in Malaysia's opposition bloc

Humble lifestyle: Nik Aziz in 2008 (AP)

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the revered spiritual leader who helped bolster unity in Malaysia's opposition bloc and was a key advocate of Islamic law, has died. He was 84.

As leader of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, he helped to keep his party in an opposition alliance amid calls from conservative members to leave the bloc. His death is the second recent big blow to the opposition, with alliance leader Anwar Ibrahim jailed for five years for sodomy. Analysts say the incidents increase the risk of a split in the three-party alliance, which has been beset for months by infighting and growing ideological differences.

Born in Kota Bharu, Malaysia in 1931, Nik Aziz received early education from his father, a religious teacher. He studied at Darul Uloom Deoband University in India before taking up Quran studies in Pakistan. He also obtained a degree in Arabic studies and an MA in Islamic law.

The father of 10 joined PAS in 1967 and served as a federal lawmaker for 19 years. In 1986 he became a Kelantan state legislator and was appointed chief minister in 1990. Under his 23-year rule, Nik Aziz banned gambling, alcohol, nightclubs, unisex salons and massage places. Supermarkets were required to have separate counters for men and women, and Muslim women were told to wear headscarves but not lipstick. He has also said that women attracted social ills by wearing skimpy clothing.

Despite his conservative outlook, his humble lifestyle won him respect. Nik Aziz refused to live in his official residence, instead staying in his wooden home next to a mosque.

He resigned in 2013 after the general elections due to poor health.

EILEEN NG

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader: born Kota Bharu, Malaysia 10 January 1931; married 1963 Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak (10 children); died Kota Bharu 12 February 2015.