HADI TOO 'KAMPUNG'? English-speaking Ahmad Awang can boost Pas profile - ex-Perak MB Nizar

KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has touted as an advantage PAS presidential hopeful Ahmad Awang’s ability to converse in English fluently.

According to the former Perak mentri besar, Ahmad’s fluency will let him represent Malaysia and PAS in international Islamic conferences in the Western world, thus raising the party’s credentials.

“He can speak Arabic very well, and so can [Abdul Hadi]. But he can also communicate and speak in English, but [Abdul Hadi] cannot,” Nizar told a forum in the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night, where Ahmad had spoken.

Nizar was referring to incumbent president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who is seen as having the upper hand in the contest in the PAS election.

“There are some aspects now in this political contemporary, you need those qualities...so people can respect our party, respect our country,” added the Perak PAS deputy commissioner.

Nizar also credited Ahmad’s role as PAS state commissioner in putting together a coalition Perak state government between PAS, PKR and DAP after the 2008 general elections, although it was short-lived after the 2009 constitutional crisis.

Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin

“Being together with Pakatan Rakyat has given benefits to all three parties. This is what I would like to see after June. And this can only be achieved with a new leadership led by Ahmad Awang since he went through that process,” said Nizar.

“Perak is unlike Terengganu. Malaysia is unlike Terengganu,” Nizar said, referring to the east coast state where Abdul Hadi led as mentri besar between 1999 and 2004 before losing it to Barisan Nasional.

Nizar claimed that Perak is a microcosm of the country as it has a similar demographic and population composition, unlike Terengganu.

The PAS party elections next week will see straight fights in almost all of the top posts, including its Youth, Women and Ulama wings.

Besides the presidential fight between Abdul Hadi and Awang, the deputy presidential contest will also see incumbent Mohamad Sabu fighting off vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. - Malay Mail