Newly elected PAS information chief Dr Harun Din will stand as a candidate in the upcoming general election, said party president Abdul Hadi Awang today.

"Harun has told the party that he is ready to contest any seat the party assigns to him," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He was responding to a question regarding a report in the party organ Harakah which quoted PAS Perlis commissioner Hashim Jassin as saying that Harun would contest for a parliamentary seat in Perlis.

Hadi's statement somewhat confirmed speculations that Harun, a renowned scholar, would play a vital role in ensuring electoral success for the party in the northern states.

New line-up

Announcing the new party line-up earlier, Hadi said the PAS central working committee had endorsed the proposal to appoint Harun as information chief while Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman would continue their duties as secretary general and treasurer respectively.

He also disclosed that six more committee members were appointed and among them were former Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, Harakah managing editor Hishamuddin Yahya and former Muslimat (women's wing) chief Fatimah Zainab.

The status quo of state commissioners remained unchanged except in Selangor where Dr Hassan Ali has taken over from incumbent Senator Hasan Shukri. The latter is now the new deputy president.

On election matters, Hadi said the party would not introduce a guideline to prevent candidates from withdrawing at the eleventh hour.

"There is no need for such a guideline. We respect the candidate's decision and will not make it hard for them. This is normal in politics. Furthermore we have so many candidates, so if one withdraws we have so many to replace.

"In fact, in 1990 our last minute candidate had won so we don't think this is a major problem," he said.

Seat distribution

He also said PAS would concede leadership in the states that it wins in the next elections to its Barisan Alternatif ally Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) as this will strengthen cooperation between the two parties.

"But we cannot divulge which states have been identified for it. We are still finalising the distribution of seats...but of course we have to work hard and win first...when we know how many seats, we can have a proper discussion and decide," he added.

The Muslim-based opposition party currently controls two states - Kelantan and Terengganu. The party also has a sizable number of state and parliamentary seats in Kedah.