PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang does not share the concerns of the party’s Youth chief that PAS is losing support from non-Muslim communities.

Instead, Hadi believes that the Islamist party is still "in the hearts" of non-Muslims and blames Umno for trying to sabotage PAS on this front.

"Even though we are always cornered or blocked through various ways by Umno, PAS still has a place in the hearts of the non-Muslim," he said in a Facebook post, without elaborating.

In an interview with Malaysiakini last week, PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat admitted that support for PAS among non-Muslims is waning but sidestepped a question on whether this due to PAS’ push to implement the hudud.

Public perception of PAS losing traction is also not true, Abdul Hadi added in his Facebook post, given that membership has grown.

"While people are busy saying all sorts of things about PAS, we registered 8,000 new members. Our membership has reached 1.03 mllion people.

"Most of them who join PAS lately are young professionals. This means we are moving forward, with more and more people wanting to join PAS," he said.

Post by Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang .

Hadi, who has held the president post for 15 years, may be challenged for the post come party polls in June.

Two divisions have nominated vice presidents Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Husam Musa for the post.

Tuan Ibrahim has declined but Husam has yet to respond.

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

The post has never been contested in PAS' 63-year history, and is traditionally held by an ulama.