INTERVIEW PAS presidential hopeful Ahmad Awang has been running into some obstacles on his election campaign trail.

The former Perak PAS commissioner said some party members have had to sneak into his events, worried that they'll be accused of breaking ranks.

"In some states when I go for an event, they have to sneak in (to attend) because they were instructed by the state leaders not to go and listen (to me)," he told Malaysiakini in an interview today.

However, the 79-year-old leader said “being sabotaged isn't unusual”.

Ahmad will be facing incumbent PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ), in the first-ever contest for the party presidency in more than 50 years, next month.

Hadi himself ascended to the presidency after his predecessor, Fadzil Nor, passed away in 2002.

Asked why members were being barred from attending his speeches, Ahmad said it was because some in the party believe there shouldn't be a contest for the top post.

'A post that cannot be changed...'

"After 30 years, some (PAS members) see the presidency as a post that cannot be changed (by someone else) as long as he (the president) is still alive.

"The presidency has never been contested all these years. Maybe that's why they think of it that way, based on the interpretation that a Muslim caliph can't be challenged and replaced unless he dies or is no longer qualified.

"But this is a political party, not an Islamic caliphate government. Political parties have constitutions that allow the presidency to be challenged," he said.

Ahmad's showdown with Hadi will be held at the 61st PAS Muktamar, which is to be held in Kuala Selangor from June 4 to 6.