The contest for the three vice-president's posts at the coming PAS' election will certainly be the main focus, with incumbents Salahuddin Ayub and Mahfuz Omar being challenged by big names in the party.

NONE They are Kelantan state executive council member and former PAS vice-president Husam Musa, former Perak menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin and Nik Mohd Amar Abdullah, who is also a Kelantan state executive council member.

Another candidate contesting for the post is information chief, Idris Ahmad.

PAS election chairperson Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman told a media conference recently that this year's party election was expected to be the stiffest ever.

Political analyst Abd Ghapa Harun expects an uphill task for Salahuddin and Mahfuz to retain their vice-presidency posts.

NONE "If the incumbents Salahuddin (left) and Mahfuz fail to win the hearts of delegates, the three posts for vice-president will be filled by new faces.

"It is important that delegates choose those who support and can work with the president," Ghapa said today.

One incumbent to win

The senior lecturer at the School of History Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said the increase in the number of candidates vying for the post could be regarded as a test for the candidates to prove their wisdom and commitment to the party.

Another political analyst, Sivamurugan Pandian, opined that the delegates would retain one of the incumbents as vice-president.

"There is a possibility that a compromise will be worked out between the ulama and the professionals to ensure a win for certain candidates," Sivamurugan said.

The political science lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) did not refute that popularity of the candidates would be a factor influencing the trend of voting among delegates at this PAS election.

The election is being held together with with the party's general assembly at the Zulkifli Mohamad Islamic University College (Kuizm) in Taman Melewar, Kuala Lumpur, from June 3 to 5.

- Bernama

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