Report: Possible contest for PAS two wings
May 20, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (ES) – Possible contest for two top posts in Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)’s wings in next month general assembly seem to be shaping up with President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang assured of retaining his post.
The contest for the youth chief’s position involved current deputy Nasrudin Hassan and Kelantan deputy speaker Mohd Zaki Ibrahim.
Meanwhile five candidates are eligible to battle it out for the youth deputy chief. They are current secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusuf, current vice chief Azman Shapawi Abd Rani, Musoddak Ahmad, Nasrudin and Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.
The third highest position in youth wing will also probably see a contest with five candidates eligible to contest.
The women wing meanwhile will probably witness a four cornered fight for the chief post between incumbent Nuridah Salleh, former chief Azizah Khatib Mat, Kota Raja parliamentary member Siti Mariah Mahmud and Dr Asiah Ali.
Similarly the wing deputy and vice chief position will also probably see a contest with four candidates being eligible to contest the former post and three candidates eligible to contest for the latter.
Meanwhile there is no contest for the Ulama wing with Terengganu PAS deputy commissioner, Datuk Harun Taib and Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed winning the chief and vice-chief posts unopposed, respectively.
Contest however seems to be shaping up for the Ulama deputy chief between Hashim Jasin and Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.
The party selection committee chairman Datuk Mustafa Ali had last week announced possible contest for the party deputy and vice president post in an election he agreed to be more “intense” compared to years past.
Candidates have until May 25 to confirm their intention to contest.
Analysts had pointed out that the party election could be decisive to tune up the future direction of the party from its traditional rightist inclination to the centre.
PAS with its allies People’s Justice Party (KeADILan) and Democratic Action Party currently controlled 82 out of Malaysian 222 parliamentary seats after the landmark March 8 election last year which denied the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition its two-third majority for the first time in almost four decades.- ES _
