PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK): Former Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM).

His son, Nik Abduh, said in a Facebook post that his father was taken to hospital on Monday night and admitted to ICU on Tuesday afternoon.

Nik Abduh said his father's health has deteriorated since the recent floods.

A source at HUSM in Kubang Kerian said Nik Aziz's condition was critical.

It is learnt that the 83-year-old PAS spiritual leader suffered a stroke. His lungs and heart were also affected by pancreatic cancer.

"The life support system will be needed to help him breathe but at the moment he is breathing on his own," said the source.

In an earlier post, Nik Abduh, a PAS central committee member, said in the last month, Nik Aziz had not been able to pray in the mosque because of fatigue.

However, he said his father had continued with the normal activities at home, such as walking, reading and resting.

He said the family apologised that his father had not been able to meet visitors because he needed the rest.

Nik Aziz helmed the Kelantan government for 23 years as Chempaka assemblyman under the Pengkalan Chepa constituency.

He retired in 2013 and was replaced by his deputy, Datuk Ahmad Yakob, after the 13th general election when he beat Barisan candidate Wan Razman Wan Abd Razak by a majority of 6,500 votes.