PAS delegates sounded out for major reforms in the party by electing a new set of leaders who they feel can take the party to greater heights in the next general election.

The delegates' strong signal was most evident when party secretary general and young turk Nasharuddin Mat Isa was elected as the new deputy president in place of veteran ulama Senator Hassan Shukri who had held the post for the past two years.

Chairperson of the PAS election committe Yahya Ismail announced at 5.30pm that Nasharuddin won the post with 536 votes to defeat both Hassan and the third contender Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman.

His announcement was greeted by shouts of Allahuakbar (God is Great) by the 1,200 delegates attending the 51st muktamar held in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

A former university lecturer who received education in Jordan and the UK, Nasharuddin is an ulama by training but is seen as a leader who can bridge the gap between the hardline ulama and the young professionals.

The new veeps

Another senior ulama who was defeated in favour of younger leaders was Azizan Abdul Razak who failed to defend his post as one of the party's three vice-presidents.

The three posts are now filled by Kelantan executive councillor Husam Musa, 46; PAS Penang Commissioner and former Youth leader Mohammad Sabu, 55 (popularly known as Mat Sabu); and PAS Selangor commissioner Dr Hassan Ali.

True to speculation, Husam who was openly backed by PAS mursyidul am Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, was indeed the favourite as he won the highest votes of 577.

Mat Sabu, famous for his witty remarks during the ceramah, won 445 votes while Hassan garnered 435 votes.

All the three new vice-presidents are considered to represent the professionals in the party.

However another candidate, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud from the Dewan Muslimat, only managed to come out fourth in the contest for the vice-president despite being backed by Nik Aziz. She was the first female candidate to contest for this high-level post.

Nevertheless, the election results showed that PAS members are serious not only about reforms but also favourable to attempts to soften the party's stern Islamist image.

Party observers believe that the party that was formed in 1951 is undergoing a big makeover following the dismal performance in the last general election, when its seats in Parliament were slashed from 27 to a mere six.

Since the last muktamar, members - mainly consisting of professionals and young clerics - have been calling for changes stating that PAS needed to attract younger voters and non-Muslims in order to remain relevant in the next general due by March 2008.

The reform agenda

A former journalist who has been closely following the party's development said Nasharuddin was chosen purely to lead the reform agenda.

"It's not like Hassan was no good but he has failed to complement the president (Abdul Hadi Awang). They see Nasharuddin can complement the president in creating changes needed in the party," he said.

Another senior party member from Terengganu who also pines for positive reforms in PAS reminded Nasharuddin that he should not expect things to easily fall into place.

"The result of the polls is not the end. This is just a beginning for him. He has the heavy task to fulfill and perform the reform agenda that has been set during this muktamar," he said.

"So he must remember if the delegates have no qualms in removing ustaz Hassan Shukri who had been serving the party since he was 15, they will not hesitate to remove a young leader who fails to perform."

Central committee

Six new faces were voted into the part central working committee. They were president of Malaysian Ulamak Association Abdul Ghani Shamsuddin, PAS Negri Sembilan commisioner Dr Rosly Yaakob, Kedah assemblyman Amiruddin Hamzah, rising Youth leader Mujahid Yusuf Rawa, Abdul Ghani Rahman and Dr Mahfodz Muhammad.

Party observers believe the new faces - a mix of professionals and ulama - will complement the successful incumbents which include Kamaruddin Jaafar, Dr Hatta Ramli, Dr Lo' Lo' Ghazali, Taib Azamuddin, Idris Ahmad and Hashim Jasin.

PAS hold its internal elections every two years. This is the first party election after the big defeat at the March 2004 general election.