PAS' top leadership has picked its candidate for the Kerdau by-election. 

PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said the decision was made during a meeting at the party headquarters in KL today.     

However, he said the candidate's name will only be announced by PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat in Kerdau on Thursday.      

"The name of PAS' candidate for the Merlimau by-election will also be announced then,"  he told Bernama when contacted.     

Mustafa, however, refused to comment on speculation that the party had named PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who is also Kuala Krau PAS chief, as the candidate for the Kerdau by-election.     

Speculation is rife that Tuan Ibrahim could be the candidate after he was replaced as the party's by-election director for the Merlimau seat by the party's top leadership at the same meeting .      

The party has picked Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman as its new by-election director for Merlimau.     

In the last general election in March 2008, Tuan Ibrahim contested in the neighbouring Jengka state seat.     

Prior to this, Pahang PAS had identified seven potential candidates for the Kerdau seat which included PAS Youth chief Nasruddin Hasan and State PAS information chief, Hassanudin Salim.      

The Kerdau and Merlimau by-elections will be held simultaneously. Nomination is on Feb 26 and polling on March 6.      

The Kerdau seat fell vacant following the death of the assemblyman, Zaharuddin Abu Kasim, 63, of the BN, on Feb 12.     

The Merlimau seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, also of the BN, on Jan 20.     

- Bernama