Pro-ulama candidates lead in PAS race
Pro-ulama PAS leaders lead the PAS race for the top three posts, with only 40 percent of PAS divisions yet to hold their annual general meeting and submit their nomination.
Pro-ulama leaders lead the PAS race for the top posts, with only 40 percent of PAS divisions yet to hold their annual general meeting and submit their nomination.
Incumbent president Abdul Hadi Awang is far ahead of his closest contender, incumbent vice president Husam Musa and former Ulama Council member Ahmad Awang.
Hadi has garnered 80 nominations, while Husam only has a fraction at eight nominations and Ahmad has four. Both Husam and Ahmad are seen as pro-Pakatan Rakyat.
The party constitution states that candidates must have a minimum two nominations to run for any post in the central leadership polls.
More than 1,000 delegates will cast their votes at the party’s annual general assembly ( muktamar ) in Kuala Selangor in June.
The outcome of the polls will determine PAS' direction and the future of Pakatan Rakyat as a tripartite.
DAP has cut ties with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (left) after he submitted a private member's bill to pave the way for hudud, without Pakatan consensus.
Even though DAP says it will still work with PAS, Hadi's re-election as president does not bode well for Pakatan's survival.
Tough race for Mat Sabu
Despite leading in nominations, Hadi, who is vice president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, cannot rest easy as it is the norm for incumbents to garner the most nominations.
However, this is not the case for incumbent deputy president Mohamad Sabu.
He has only nine nominations to defend the post, compared to incumbent vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man who has 78 nominations for the deputy president post.
This indicates that Mohamad (right) , who is better known as Mat Sabu, will face an uphill climb to retain the post.
Of the nine who now qualify to battle for the three veep positions, five are known to be ulama-leaning while the remaining four are pro-Pakatan Rakyat.
Bukit Gantang MP Idris Ahmad leads with 64 nominations, followed by incumbent Salahuddin Ayub (40) and Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah (36).
Others in the mix are information chief Mahfuz Omar (34), Temerloh MP Nasrudin Hassan (33), Selangor executive councillor Iskandar Samad (20), Husam (10), Tuan Ibrahim (10) and Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Rawa.
All nominations must be submitted by 11.59 pm on April 30.
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