Ahmad Awang gets first nomination to take on Hadi for party top post

Former PAS vice-president Ahmad Awang has been nominated as first choice for the party presidency. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 21, 2015.

PAS's Parit Sulong division has nominated former vice-president Ahmad Awang as their first choice for the party presidency, making him the third person so far named to challenge incumbent Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Hadi today also received a second nomination from the Kuala Kedah division, fortifying his chance to defend his post in the upcoming 61st muktamar in June.

Aside from Ahmad, the other two challengers were PAS vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa (two nominations) and Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (one nomination).

Tuan Ibrahim has since declined the nomination by Kota Baru PAS by pledging his full support for Hadi. Husam, meanwhile, has yet to announced his stance on the matter.

Tuan Ibrahim also received a first nomination from Kuala Kedah for the deputy president's post.

In PAS, a candidate needs at least two nominations from a division to qualify for a contest.

At the Kuala Kedah division AGM last night, Hadi received 91 votes against Ahmad's 27. At the meeting, its division chief Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi decided to relinquish his post in the party.

He said this was to allow him to focus on Pakatan Rakyat-friendly Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera (PasMa) activities.

Meanwhile, Parit Sulong division chief Khairudin Abdul Rahim told The Malaysian Insider that Ahmad had been chosen as the division's first choice in the race for the party presidency post.

"A majority of committee members in our meeting on March 18 picked Ahmad Awang over Hadi," he said.

Nominations for the rest of the positions in the party remained at status quo with Mohamad Sabu as deputy president and Salahudin Ayub, Tuan Ibrahim and Husam as vice-presidents.

PAS will hold its party elections during its muktamar, or general assembly, this June in Shah Alam, against a backdrop of infighting and disputes over whether it should remain with the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.

Grassroots leaders are searching for a new president who can unite the party, following criticism that Hadi was not acting as a president for all within PAS.

- TMI