Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has returned as Pas president for the 2009-2011 term unopposed, the party’s election committee chairman Datuk Mustafa Ali announced Saturday.
He said Hadi obtained 136 nominations from the total of party 137 divisions that had submitted nominations for the polls before the May 8 closing date. “He has also responded to the offer letter,” he added.
Speaking at a press conference at the Pas headquarters here to unveil the candidates who qualified to contest during the 55th annual conference in June, Mustafa said that of all 176 Pas divisions nationwide, only 137 had submitted their nominations.
“Why? Probably some divisions met after May 8 or perhaps they did meet before the date but did not submit nominations for whatever reasons which we don’t know,” he said.
For the post of deputy president, he said, five people were eligible to contest including the incumbent, Nasharudin Mat Isa.
The other four are Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, current vice presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Mohamad Sabu and deputy general adviser Datuk Dr Haron Din.
Meanwhile, 16 candidates secured enough nominations to vie for the three vice-president seats including all the incumbents, namely Husam, Mohamad and Ahmad Awang.
The rest include Azizan, Nasharudin, secretary-general Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, information chief Mahfuz Omar, Youth head Salahuddin Ayub and former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin.
Mustafa said in Pas history, this was the most number of people contesting for the post of vice president.
For seats in the central committee, 86 people qualified to contest. Pas has 24 central committee members including six appointees.
“To all who qualified, we have sent the offer letter and they need to respond by May 25 at the latest. Those who do not reply to the offer letter are deemed not interested,” Mustafa said.
