Party unity: Tuan Ibrahim (second from left) at the Muslim Ummah International Forum at the Darulaman Golf and Country Club, Jitra, Kedah. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
ALOR SETAR: PAS has defended its leadership decision not to contest the party’s top posts, stressing that it does not signify a lack of democracy.
Deputy party president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said some PAS leaders may have received strong nominations but chose to focus on cooperation rather than competition.
“Take Sanusi (Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor), for instance. He is our election director, and though he commands wide support, he sees the importance of dividing responsibilities rather than fighting over positions.
“He is a good example of someone who steps aside for the sake of distributing work,” he told reporters after attending the Muslim Ummah International Forum here yesterday.
He said in PAS, positions were never about competition but about trust and responsibility.
It was earlier reported that Muhammad Sanusi, who received the highest number of nominations for a vice-president post, opted not to contest, resulting in the party’s top leadership maintaining its status quo.
Last month, secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan confirmed that the top five party positions – president, deputy president and three vice-presidents – would be uncontested.
The 2025-2027 PAS line-up will therefore see Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang continuing as president, alongside deputy president Tuan Ibrahim and vice-presidents Datuk Idris Ahmad, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah.
Takiyuddin also announced that the leadership of the PAS Youth, Women’s and Ulama wings remain unchanged, with their respective chiefs, deputies and vice-chiefs returned unopposed.
The Ulama wing, led by Kedah PAS commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yahya, also saw 12 committee members selected without contest.
Tuan Ibrahim said that in PAS, party posts were regarded as responsibilities rather than prizes.
“In PAS, campaigning for posts is frowned upon and those who do so usually lose,” he said.
He added that the priority now was to strengthen Perikatan Nasional and prepare for elections, especially the upcoming state polls in Sabah.
On PAS vice-president Mohd Amar’s remarks that the party aimed to win 80 parliamentary seats in the next general election, Tuan Ibrahim said the target was realistic for Perikatan.
