KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang looks set to continue his 11-year leadership of the Islamist party after a potential challenger for the position was disqualified on technicalities.

The party's election committee chairman Asmuni Awi told reporters today that the challenger had failed to meet the minimum nomination requirements.

"Each candidate needs at least one proposer and one seconder to be nominated. But this person only has one of them," Asmuni told a press conference here.

The name of the potential candidate was however not disclosed by PAS, citing confidentiality.

"We are only announcing the names of qualified candidates. However, we can tell you that he is from the same area as Hadi and had nominated himself," he added.

Asmuni also announced the five names who have qualified to contest for the deputy president post: incumbent Mohamad Sabu, vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Salahuddin Ayub, Kelantan deputy mentri besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, and information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

All five candidates for deputy president were also named as candidates for vice-presidents.

Five other names qualified to contest for vice-president posts were: incumbent vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar, central working committee members Datuk Abu Bakar Chik, Idris Ahmad and Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, and Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan.

Nasruddin is expected to defend his Youth chief post against five challengers, including vice-president Dr Raja Iskandar al-Hiss.

All nominated candidates have until November 8 to confirm their contest. Any candidates who fail to do so will be disqualified.

PAS annual conference, called Muktamar, will be held this November 22 to 24 in Shah Alam.

Abdul Hadi was elected party president in 2002, following the untimely death of former president Datuk Fadzil Noor.