Discouraging members from against nominating other candidates besides PAS president incumbent Abdul Hadi Awang for the post will only backfire, said PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Khalid said statements like the one made by Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob makes it seem that Hadi does not have the backing of members.

Ahmad (below) yesterday said the president post should not be challenged given that Hadi is the second top ulama in the International Union of Muslim Scholars - the foremost body of Muslim scholars in the world.

"(Ahmad) should not have made such a statement. It will only hurt the president rather than shore up trust for Hadi.

"His intention is to give support but such statements give a negative impression," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Shah Alam PAS general assembly.

Two divisions have thus far nominated candidates other than Hadi for the post, which has never been contested in PAS’ 63-year history.

Hadi was tightlipped when asked whether he will defend his post, but said that there is nothing to stop other candidates from contesting the post.

The Kota Bharu, the first to nominate a candidate other than Hadi for the post, cited his poor health as a reason.

We want a united party

But Khalid believes that this is not a problem as long as the health problems do not impede on the person’s ability to lead the party.

"Leaders are not required to be 100 percent healthy so it is no issue as long as they can still lead. We only want the party to be united," he said.

He gave the example of recently deceased PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Hadi’s predecessor Fadhil Nor who both battled health issues while in a leadership role.

Last November, Hadi (left) , who had been hospitalised several times in the past few years, admitted that he has health problems and has been losing weight.

Kota Bharu had nominated incumbent vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man for the post while Kota Tinggi yesterday nominated fellow veep Husam Musa.

Tuan Ibrahim has turned down the nomination while Husam has yet to respond.

The party constitution requires at least two nominations for a candidacy.

The party elections will take place during the party's annual assembly on June 4 to 6.