PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has returned uncontested despite talks of a possible challenge to his post in the party’s muktamar (annual general meeting) next month.

hadi awang and pas He was the only nominee for the president post, which was announced at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Abdul Hadi retains his seat after garnering 136 nominations from 137 PAS divisions.

However, the field is wide open for the other key posts in the party - there are five nominations for deputy president and as many as 16 possible candidates for the party’s three vice-president posts.

Incumbent deputy president Nasaruddin Mat Isa , who has been nominated to defend his post, could be facing four challengers - Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak , deputy Mursyidul Am Dr Harun Din and incumbent vice-presidents Husam Musa and Mohammad Sabu .

All the five deputy president candidates have also been nominated to vie for the three vice-president posts. Also named to defend his post is incumbent VP, Ahmad Awang .

The other 10 vice-president nominees are:

1. Hasan Ali (PAS Selangor commissioner and state exco member)

2. Idris Ahmad (PAS central committee member)

3. Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS secretary-general and Tumpat MP)

4. Mahfuz Omar (Information chief and Pokok Sena MP)

5. Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah (Kelantan state exco member)

6. Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar MP).

7. Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin (Perak MB and Bukit Gantang MP)

8. Salahuddin Ayub (PAS Youth chief and Kubang Kerian MP)

9. Taib Azamuddin (Baling MP)

10. Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS Pahang commissioner)

Meanwhile, there are 86 contestants for 18 PAS central committee seats.

kuala terengganu by election 080109 pas daily pc mustafa ali According to the party's election committee chairperson Mustafa Ali, this is the "most crowded contest” in the party's history.

Those nominated have up to May 25 to state their intention on whether to pull out or to contest the polls when the party meets on June 5-7 in Shah Alam.

According to the PAS muktamar official website, notices have been issued to all contestants and only Abdul Hadi has so far confirmed his intention to contest in the election.

Meanwhile, the nominees for the party's Youth and Muslimat (women's) wings will be announced on Monday.

Refuses to reveal number of nominations

Speaking to reporters later, Mustafa was tightlipped on the number of nominations received by the candidates for the party’s central committee positions in order to avoid speculation.

However, he said: “You can ask the candidates yourselves."

He added that the candidates were informed of the total number of nominations they have bagged so that they “know where they stand”.

Mustafa denied a report by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia two days ago that Nasharuddin had received 60 percent of the nominations from PAS divisions nationwide.

“Many have asked me whether I have leaked the figure... this is not good for me,” he said.

On a related development, Mustafa also brushed aside suggestions that the party is involved in money politics as claimed by Dewan Ulama chief Mohamad Daud Iraqi, who said some party leaders had offered gifts to divisions in order to get nominated.

“I myself have not received any reports because I am confident that the members will not do such a thing,” he said.

“I am not worried (about money politics) because it never happens (in the party),” he reassured.

When asked if he would mind if Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is to investigate those involved in money politics, he replied: “This question does not arise because we did not get any reports of wrongdoings.”