Party elections were carried out this morning and the official results will only be announced tomorrow morning.

But impatience among the delegates at the PAS muktamar in Kota Baru soon turned into jitters for some as 'unofficial' results started to spread that the young turks had swept the party polls.

Delegates and journalists present were informed by aides of the party's top guns that "unofficial results" revealed all the older incumbents were wiped out.

"The older generation is out. The new leadership will be headed by young leaders," claimed an aide who requested anonymity.

According to him, Nasharuddin Mat Isa 43 had won the deputy president post defeating incumbent Senator Hassan Shukri 66 and party treasurer and former Kelantan deputy mentri besar Abdul Halim Rahman 66.

He claimed that the three vice president posts were won by Kelantan's blue-eye boy Husam Musa, PAS Penang commissioner Mohamad Sabu and muslimat leader Dr Siti Mariah.

The incumbents, PAS Selangor commissioner Dr Hassan Ali and PAS Kedah commissioner Azizan Ali, were defeated . The third veep, Mustafa Ali, did not seek re-election.

This information had media representatives running to party officials seeking confirmation but they remained tightlipped.

"Those are just rumours. The counting is still ongoing. How can we say anything right now," one official said.

President's speech the key

Party leaders who were approached also declined to comment as they feared being accused of lobbying for certain candidates which is currently a 'taboo subject' among delegates.

A party observer believed that president Abdul Hadi Awang's opening speech acknowledging the need for reform had greatly boosted the young turks' chances in the contest.

"Thanks to the president's speech, many delegates believe that reform is greatly needed in the party. This may be why the young ones have captured the hearts of the delegates."

Meanwhile, one party worker claimed that the rumour is based on the on-going counting and not the final results.

"This could also be a 'psychological warfare' among politicians and they are probably making use of the press. I would ignore the rumours and wait for the official announcement tomorrow," he advised