Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Hadi will be challenged, predicts PAS leader

A senior PAS leader has predicted that president's post will be contested in the upcoming party elections.

He expects more than one candidate to challenge PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang if he decides to defend his post.

Judging from the mood on the ground, there could be several nominations for the top post, said the leader who requested anonymity.

"PAS is a very democratic and that there will be a keen contest this time around as there are a lot of issues in the party," the leader said.

He commenting on PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali’s prediction that the number one post would be uncontested because there was no capable leader in the party to take on Hadi, who has the backing of the pro-ulama faction.

“Let the presidency be contested. Constitutionally, all positions of executive are open to nomination and contest. This is what you call a democracy," he said.

Hadi has never been challenged since he took over as acting president following the death of Datuk Fadzil Noor in 2002.

The leader, who is aligned to the "moderate" faction in PAS, said a contest was as an important form of check and balance to bring forward any political party.

“It would be in the best interests of the party for every post to be contested. Nobody should ever imagine himself to be indispensable and could do no wrong,” he said.

He said that leadership was multi-dimensional and that the most knowledgeable person might not be the best choice to run the party.

“There are other competencies such as strategising and management coupled with the demands of coalition politics,” he said.

The leader was agreeable to suggestions by some moderates that Hadi should be "promoted" to the spiritual adviser role previously held by the late Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

“Give him (Hadi) some face and dignity. Let him go up rather than being demoted,” he said.

The leader said that PAS was not short of leaders such as Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Ahmad Awang, Datuk Husam Musa, Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Salahuddin Ayub.

“By allowing a contest, delegates will have the chance to listen to new ideas and ways of solving problems,” he said.

A candidate needs at least two nominations from a division to qualify for a contest.

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