Kelantan: Fadzli Hassan, Mohd Nassuruddin to be new MB and Deputy MB?

KOTA BHARU - Kelantan's Menteri Besar and Deputy Menteri Besar are likely to be a new duo, not the previous partnership and not in their 50s, said Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

He said two names will be presented to Sultan Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, for approval today.

"They are a combination of religious and technocratic leaders that could have previously served as an Exco," he said at a press conference yesterday night.

Takiyuddin said the two names being considered are Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan (Temangan) and Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (Meranti).

The current Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah (Panchor) is 68 years old.

"MB and Deputy MB must be Kelantan people," said Takiyuddin.

He said the meeting on the nominees for the next MB and Deputy MB has been finalised and has received Pas Kelantan's approval.

He added that the context in Kelantan differs from that of other states due to the role of TMB as specified in the State Government Law.

"For example, in Penang, the post of Deputy Chief Minister is not in the constitution, but it has been created," he said.

"When MB is appointed, he will bring ten names to His Majesty the Sultan for appointment to the exco. Deputy Menteri Besar will then be chosen from one of the excos in Kelantan."

Takiyuddin said the meeting was held in accordance with the provisions of the Kelantan State Government's Constitution, Article 16, which states that under Sultan Kelantan first appointed a state assemblyman who, in his opinion, had the confidence of the majority of members of the state assemblymen.

He said the Sultan has ultimate power and did not require counsel from any party.

According to him, the party proposed names that they believe are suitable and fit for the Sultan to select as chief ministers.

Media previously reported that Kelantan would have the new MB and Deputy MB if Pas and Perikatan Nasional (PN) remained in charge of the state after the state polls.

Takiyuddin stated that he had resolved to change the two posts by presenting a coalition of new leaders, a religionist figure and a technocratic figure, subject to the people's mandate and Sultan Kelantan's approval.

Earlier, Ahmad stated that his health issues were the primary reason he declined to remain MB if the party won the state election this time.