As opponents of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang test the waters on the bid to topple the top leader in the coming party election, a potential challenger has warned that the attempt would be futile if dirty campaigning persists.

 

Party veteran Ahmad Awang, who has received the minimum of two nominations to qualify to contest against Abdul Hadi, said a dirty campaign was already underway.

 

"If we were to contest, of course it is to win. But if the current situation persists then it is pointless, (the challengers) will surely be defeated,” said Ahmad, who has yet to decide if he will throw his hat in the ring.

 

"The ulama (religious scholars) are being used to organise special activities to prop up Abdul Hadi," he alleged.

 

Ahmad added that leaders aligned to Abdul Hadi ( right ) were leveraging on their position in PAS to bolster ulama candidates, warning that this may cause a bitter split in the party.

 

For example, he said the syura council led by PAS spiritual leader Haron Din has openly endorsed Abdul Hadi in an apparent bid to stave off potential challengers.

 

"He (Haron) has to be fair and advise delegates to behave, and not declare that the president must be defended and no one can challenge him.

 

"We do not want the spiritual leader to interfere. Do not abuse your power, it will hurt the party's image and also the ulama leadership," he said.

 

He gave the example of former Perak menteri besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, who was defeated in the recent Kampar PAS divisional election by a little-known ulama.

 

Ahmad said Nizar lost following a smear campaign which labeled him as a traitor loyal to DAP.

 

Some 30 out of 191 PAS divisions have held their annual general assembly meetings and at least three divisions have nominated Ahmad.

 

Incumbent Abdul Hadi, on the other hand, has received 22 nominations to defend the top post.

 

Another possible challenger is vice-president Husam Musa, who has received nine nominations, but his status as a non-ulama may prove difficult to attract wide support within the party.

 

A pro-Pakatan ulama

 

Ahmad, 79, an ulama who is a staunch supporter of Pakatan, is seen as a more viable challenger in a party that venerates ulama leadership.

 

He had insisted on working with DAP and PKR despite Umno's overtures to form a unity government with PAS in Perak after the incumbent fell short of a majority in the 12th General Election.

 

Ahmad is a former PAS syura council member and Perak PAS deputy commissioner but has declined leadership roles since 2009. However, there are now calls for him to come out of retirement.

 

Disgruntlement against Abdul Hadi, 68, has grown due to his indifference towards Pakatan which has threatened the disintegration of the opposition coalition.

 

However Abdul Hadi, who is vice-president of the renowned International Union of Muslims Scholars, remains a widely influential leader in PAS.

 

Ahmad lamented that dirty campaigning within the Islamic party had already claimed the scalps of a number of pro-Pakatan leaders in Perak.