No challenge for PAS top posts, VP slots to see four-way fight

The PAS president and deputy president posts will be uncontested in the party’s upcoming September election for the 2025-2027 terms after both positions drew only a single candidate each.

This is according to the list of eligible candidates for the opposition party’s polls, as released by PAS central election committee chairperson Wan Rohimi Wan Daud last night after a committee meeting on Wednesday.

The list showed “single candidate (no contest)” for both the president and deputy president posts, without disclosing any names.

Four candidates have been cleared to vie for the vice-presidency, namely Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Idris Ahmad, Amar Abdullah and Sanusi Nor.

Samsuri, who is also the Terengganu menteri besar, as well as Idris and Amar, are the party’s incumbent vice-presidents.

Sanusi, who is also the Kedah menteri besar and PAS’ elections director, previously said he was not ready to take up the post of the party’s vice-president, reportedly asserting that there were “more qualified” people for the position.

This was despite PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin expressing his support for Sanusi’s nomination, pointing to the latter’s strong performance as a state leader and his influence within the party.

Hadi to defend post

Incumbent PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had also confirmed he will defend his position at the party’s 71st muktamar in Kedah, with the Marang MP noting that he has no intention of relinquishing the post he has held for over 20 years.

Dismissing talks of a leadership transition in PAS, the party’s secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, told Malaysiakini last month that top positions are typically held until the leader passes away.

The Kota Bharu MP was responding to speculation surrounding Hadi’s position, amid internal chatter over possible changes at the top.

A pro-ulama faction known as Geng Ustaz had raised alarm over alleged attempts to “challenge the president”, describing the matter as a “long-standing sore” in the party.

Neither Hadi nor PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has faced a contest for their positions since the 2015 party election.

For the party’s ulama council chief post, eligible candidates are incumbent Ahmad Yahaya and Bukit Payung assemblyperson Nor Hamzah.

Incumbent PAS Youth chief Ahnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden is also set to defend his position against another candidate, Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar.

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