Tun Mahathir: Nik Aziz is my brother, if he is wrong I will not accept

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he regards former Kelantan Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat as a brother, but will still be reprimanded should he (Nik Aziz) make a mistake.

“Nik Aziz is my brother but if he makes a mistake, I will not accept it. This is why I differ (opinion) from him,” said Dr Mahathir during a talk at the International Islamic University Malaysia President’s Premier Lecture, here on Wednesday.

He said this in reply to a question by a participant of the lecture who proposed for the former Menteri Besar of Kelantan, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat and to guide the Muslims together with Dr Mahathir as there were similarities between them.

In his reply Dr Mahathir added that the main principle of law is to achieve justice.

“(But) the Muslims are more interested in the punishments.

“Punishments can be imposed but it must be fair. If you say hudud is only for the Muslims, that is not fair.

“If two robbers are caught and you chop off the hands of one of them because he is a Muslim and the other is given a two month jail sentence, is that fair?

“That is unfair,” said Dr Mahathir.

He also said that it is hard to achieve justice in this country.

“We must have the same law. What is fair is Islam. Based on that angle I am different from Nik Aziz, my brother,” he said.

Under Nik Aziz ‘s ruling in 1993, the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly had approved the 1993 Syariah (II) Criminal Code Enactment.

It was however not implemented as it contradicted with the Federal Constitution.

Following this matter, Dr Mahathir had also written a letter to Nik Aziz stating his view on the Enactment, where he opposed to it.