KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will not defend the Rhu Rendang state seat in the 14th general election, said secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
Takiyuddin told a press conference today that he and Abdul Hadi were among three senior PAS leaders who will only contest for a federal seat.
“The deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man will be fielded at a parliamentary seat but not in Pahang, although he is the state commissioner.
“This time, the president will not be contesting for the Rhu Rendang state seat. As for me, I will be defending my seat,” the incumbent MP for Kota Baru said after a PAS secretary department meeting at its headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut here.
Tuan Ibrahim had been a state assemblyman for Jengka after defeating Umno’s Datuk Zainal Hassan in the 10th general election, but lost in the next two polls and sat out in 2013.
Takiyuddin said today's meeting was called to hand over the final list of candidates to each state secretary for their announcement, which will be made simultaneously nationwide tomorrow night.
Candidates for Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan will be announced slightly later, he added.
“Kelantan has requested from the central leadership for a later date because some minor adjustments are needed, so they will only make their announcement on April 25.
“Our president will be in Sarawak on April 21 and Sabah on April 22 so the announcement for the candidates will be made then to coincide with his visits,” he said.
Takiyuddin did not divulge further information on the candidates, but hinted that there will be a “surprise” and that 30 per cent of them are going to be young leaders.
“PAS Youth chief, deputy chief and vice-chief are among those who will contest.
“I cannot say who the rest are or where they will be fielded but there are some young candidates. Definitely above 21 years old but no more than 30,” he said.
