PAS vice-president Mustafa Ali has surrendered all his state administrative posts in Terengganu to focus on his federal responsibilities.

Mustafa said his posts as Terengganu's state liason secretary and state election director has been taken over by Manir state assemblyperson Harun Taib who is also the PAS ulama (religious scholars) wing head.

"However, I have agreed to take over Harun's post as state deputy commissioner because it is more executive in nature so there is not much work involved.

"This would allow me to give my best to my federal posts (as the party's vice and election director)," he said when contacted.

The PAS leader also stressed that there is nothing to be read between the lines, adding: "I just don't want to carry too much (burden) at the same time, that's all."

The change of posts was announced during a meeting yesterday chaired by PAS Terengganu commissioner and party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Not surprised

Meanwhile, former parliamentarian from Kuala Terengganu Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi said the latest development was not a surprise.

"We have expected it because Mustafa had expressed his wish to drop the administrative posts quite some time ago," he added.

He dismissed suggestions that Mustafa wanted to give up the posts following criticisms against him due to the party's poor performance in the state during the general election.

"As far as I know, there had been no complaints against him," he added when contacted.

PAS made strong gains in the 1999 general elections but its fortunes reversed sharply this year, losing Terengganu and suffering a thumping in other states.

Post-mortem report

In another development, Mustafa said the party is ready to table its election post-mortem report to the central working committee early next month.

"We are at our final stages preparing the report. Now we are just tying some loose ends. After tabling it we would go into implementing the proposals stated in the report," he added.

He said the report would be extensively discussed during the munaqashah (post general assembly) meet which is scheduled to be held after Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

However, Mustafa declined to elaborate on the contents of the report stating that it will be revealed during the meet.