KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) is looking stronger than ever and despite facing an internal party crisis, nominations have poured in for him to contest and retain the top post.

As the party’s muktamar or general assembly draws near, Hadi has garnered the most nominations, although he will face two challengers: vice-president Datuk Husam Musa and former vice-president Ahmad Awang, who received eight and three nominations, respectively.

This is the first time the PAS presidency is being contested.

Meanwhile, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who has not received a second nomination to qualify for the presidency, has been getting nominations for the post of deputy president to take on incumbent Mohamad Sabu.

With Hadi in a somewhat secure position, the numbers from the ongoing divisional elections also show that leadership by the ulama (religious scholar), who has helmed the party for decades, is still favoured by members.

For other positions, too, the ulama faction is ahead of another group in PAS that is seen as more progressive, comprising those who are professionals and in favour of maintaining cooperation with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact.

Despite the unhappiness Hadi had caused among some in PAS and its PR allies, DAP and PKR — to the extent of causing DAP to cut off its ties with him — he appears to be on solid ground.

“The Tuan Guru president (Hadi) is still strong. He will win the contest this time,” said veteran PAS Kelantan leader Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah.

PAS’ assembly and elections in June are seen as a watershed for the party in determining its future — whether it charts its own path or remains committed to PR.

This follows offers from both Hadi and PAS’ arch-rival, Umno, to collaborate under a unity government to advance the hudud agenda in Kelantan and the cause of Islam in the country.

Hadi has angered his PR allies with his insistence on seeing the Islamic penal code enforced in Kelantan, where PAS forms the state government. At the same time, those in PAS who favour cooperation with PR are also working hard to keep the Islamist party in the opposition pact.

There also seems to be an ousting of moderates from posts they have held in the divisional polls.

Signs that the ulama remains strong amid the internal party friction were apparent in Perak recently, where the popular former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, who is seen as a moderate, lost the chairmanship of the PAS Kampar division which he held for 14 years.

Melaka PAS commissioner Adly Zahari was also defeated in Alor Gajah.

Hadi’s son-in-law, Zaharuddin Muhammad of the ulama faction, managed to defeat PAS Subang division chief Mesni Dahlan.

But the fact that contenders for Hadi’s position are nominated also shows that the outcome of PAS’ elections remains unpredictable. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 20, 2015.