Although endorsed by PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar, Nik Abdul Nik Mat, it appears party vice-president Mohamad Sabu had been ruled out as candidate to contest in the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

PAS has yesterday finalised its candidate for the crucial by-election next month at its central committee meeting chaired by party president Hadi Awang.

Although Hadi said an announcement would be made on Jan 1 - five days before nomination day - the likelihood of an outsider who is not from Kuala Terengganu being picked to contest the parliamentary seat looked very slim.

petrol price hike protest 2 100306 mat sabu According to party's mouthpiece Harakahdaily , the doors seemed to be "almost closed" on Mohamad ( right ) - a party leader from Penang who was PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu in the March general elections - following claims he as an “outsider” would not be generally accepted by the voters.

This is despite that the veteran politician is best known for his witty oratory skills and has the blessings from influential party leader, Nik Aziz.

Generally, the PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu had always been a local and this trend is expected to continue despite Mohamad's choice in the March 8 general elections.

Hadi has yesterday strongly hinted that the likely candidate is a ‘professional who is close to the people’.

It is learnt two lists of names - one from Terengganu PAS and the other from PAS headquarters - were discussed at yesterday’s meeting and the candidate was picked after much deliberation in what party insiders say was very long meeting.

It’s now down to four

jom bersih venue change 010208 syed azman With Mohamad out of the equation, the PAS frontrunner is Batu Burok assemblyperson Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi ( right ), who was Kuala Terengganu MP in 1999 before losing the seat to Umno four years later.

Another name being bandied around is entrepreneur Dr Mohd Khazani Abdullah, a former Universiti Putra Malaysia lecturer.

Dr Syed Azman who had just returned from Haj declined to comment on the party’s candidate when contacted by Malaysiakini.

"I have just returned in the last couple of days from pilgrimage. I cannot comment (on the matter). Let the party leaders make the announcement first," he said.

Also named as possible candidates is Terengganu PAS commissioner Mustafa Ali or his deputy, Wan Mutalib Embong - both veteran politicians and professionals.

Syed Azman and Mohd Khazani are young professionals with the latter said to be quite active in PAS Youth but was handicapped by being a virtual unknown despite being a local.

kuala terengganu by election wan farid bn candidate 031208 Syed Azman is seen as the popular choice. He is widely regarded as a leader in the next echelon of party leadership. Moreover, he had won the Kuala Terengganu seat in 1999 only to lose it later in 2004.

Many see the announcement of Deputy Home Minister Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh ( above ) as Umno candidate has forced PAS to run a heavyweight, perhaps Mustafa or Wan Mutalib.

PAS to stick to Jan 1 date

On a different note, questions are being raised over the delay in the naming of the PAS candidate although it was widely reported that the party would make the announcement a day after Umno made its candidate known.

Even veterans such as Wan Mutalib, who is heading the Terengganu PAS election machinery, had proposed to the party to announce its candidate early.

kuala terengganu parliamnetary seat 291108 "This would help the election machinery with its planning and strategy to attract more to vote for PAS," he was quoted to have said.

Party sources insisted the naming of the candidate on Jan 1 was decided much earlier, way before BN announced Wan Ahmad Farid as their choice.

"PAS wanted to announce the name of the candidate during the launch of the PAS election machinery. It is surprising BN announce their choice much earlier as nomination is on Jan 6," the source said.

"The name of the candidate has been decided and it is only fitting that the name be announced by Hadi at the launch of party's election machinery."

The Kuala Terengganu seat fell vacant following the sudden death of Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

Razali had on the March 8 general election defeated Mohamad and independent candidate Maimun Yusuf by a slim majority of 628 votes.