The nomination of Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar for the PAS vice-presidency has resulted in an expected four-cornered fight for the three available posts in the upcoming party polls this month.

The elections, to be held in conjunction with the 65th PAS muktamar this year, will now see Ahmad Samsuri take on three incumbents – Idris Ahmad, Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and Iskandar Abdul Samad.

Meanwhile, PAS central election committee chairperson Mohd Fuad Mohd Salleh said 37 candidates had qualified to contest for the 18 central committee positions.

“From that number (37), 29 have expressed their willingness to contest.

“Four have been nominated for the vice-president position, which are the three incumbents and Terengganu MB Ahmad Samsuri,” he said in a statement today.

It was reported on Sunday that both PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and his deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man have retained their respective posts uncontested.

This was because no other hopefuls had submitted their names for the top two posts by the time the nomination closed three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, all top posts for the PAS Muslimat were won uncontested by the incumbents. The same went for the party’s Ulama and Youth wings, while 17 candidates will contest the 12 seats in the executive committee.

Hadi's son nominated for central committee post

Hadi’s son, Muhammad Khalil, is among those vying for the central committee post. He was previously PAS Youth chief.

Also nominated alongside the latter is party information chief Nasruddin Hassan.

Mohd Fuad reminded all candidates that they could still pull out should they have no desire to contest.

“To those intending to withdraw, they are given from Wednesday, June 12, to declare their intention to do so in writing to the PAS central committee,” he added.

The party’s 65th muktamar will take place at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium in Kuantan, Pahang, this year, from June 21 to 23.

Meanwhile, the Muslimat wing assembly will take place on June 15 at the Bukit Gambang Convention Centre in Kuantan, followed by the Youth wing assembly on June 19-20 at the same venue. The PAS Ulama assembly will be held at the Wisma Belia Indera Mahkota on June 20.