Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has retained his post uncontested as PAS president for a fifth term, following divisional meetings and submission last Sunday of nominations for top posts in the party’s June elections.
PAS polls chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman made the announcemnent at a press conference at PAS’ headquarters today and reminded nominees that they have until May 26 to confirm their candidacy.
“All candidates will receive a letter from the secretariat and they will be given the option whether to accept or reject the nomination,” said Abdul Halim.
PAS will hold its central party elections or Muktamar from June 3 to 5 at Markas PAS Taman Melewar.
Polling day is June 3 and official results will be announced the following day.
PAS party elections are held every two years and according to Abdul Halim, next month’s session will involve 1,100 delegates from 180 divisions nationwide.
On nominations for the party’s top posts, Abdul Halim said the committee received nominations from 152 divisions nationwide, but six were rejected due to technical errors.
“We accepted 146 nominations for the posts of permanent chairman, deputy permanent chairman, deputy president, vice president and working committee members,” he said.
He also confirmed that party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had retained his post uncontested.
For the post of deputy president, current incumbent Nasharudin Mat Isa will be up against five other nominees, including Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.
All three incumbents for the vice president’s post will also be facing stiff competition from 11 other nominees comprising party veterans and relatively newcomers.
PAS secretary general Datuk Mustafa Ali, who was also present at the press conference, was asked about guidelines for candidates during the campaigning period, to which he said: “We have no written guidelines as such. But in PAS, we are all gentlemen, so each person should know what to do.”
He said that besides delegates from PAS divisions, its non-Muslim supporters who formed the Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS will be allowed to attend the elections and will be given a platform to debate motions.
“The only thing they can’t do is vote,” he said.-TheSun
