KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has never stopped any members from contesting in the party polls, but instead has encouraged them to do so, said deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man amid criticism over the no-contest for the top five posts.
“In fact, when I launched annual general meetings for the party, I encouraged the members to nominate others for the deputy president post.
“The party has never prohibited divisions from nominating members to contest for any posts,” he said in a brief Facebook post.
Recently, the party came under fire after announcing that the president, deputy president, and three vice-president posts would not be contested.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the no-contest was due to zero nominations for the said posts, adding that elections would only be held for the party’s central committee.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who was nominated for the vice-president post, withdrew, while the remaining nominees, who were the incumbents, retained their posts.
During the PAS elections two years ago, both president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man were not challenged for their posts.
Hadi assumed the party’s presidency in 2002, while Tuan Ibrahim became his deputy in 2015.
The three vice-presidents in the party at present include Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Bagan Serai MP Datuk Idris Ahmad, and Panchor assemblyman Datuk Amar Nik Abdullah.
Eighteen posts in the party’s central committee are up for grabs during the PAS Muktamar (general assembly), which is set to take place at IDCC Shah Alam for three days, beginning October 20. – October 1, 2023