Dr M: Karpal the biggest winner in PAS polls

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that the DAP’s Karpal Singh is the actual winner in last weekend’s PAS elections because he claimed the party had abandoned its Islamic principles.

Dr Mahathir added that PAS’s new push for a welfare state was proof that the Islamist party had abandoned its fight for an Islamic state.

The former prime minister accused PAS of forsaking its struggle to implement Islamic and hudud laws just to appease its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition partner DAP.

“The person who won big did not attend the muktamar and is not even a PAS member. That person is Karpal Singh... his fight against PAS’s plans to build an Islamic state which would have enforced hudud law has been achieved,” he wrote in a blog posting today.

Professionals, ulama in tussle for control

Delegates at the 52nd Pas Youth assembly at Dewan Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam yesterday. A total of 650 delegates took part in the voting on the second day of the wing’s muktamar. Incumbent Nasruddin Hassan won the post of Pas Youth head unopposed while Nik Abduh, the son of Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, won the deputy Youth head contest, defeating three other candidates. The delegates also elected 12 new committee members for the 2011-2013 term.

IN a subtle tone, Pas Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Harun Taib said the party had always opened its arms to professionals.

"The ulama has never closed its doors against professionals in or outside the party in upholding the teachings of Islam," said Harun, in his opening speech to about 400 Dewan Ulama delegates at Taman Melewar here yesterday. His text was read out by his deputy, Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.

This was a telling speech, coinciding with another important contest for the post of deputy president in the party.

Mat Sabu leads PAS deputy president race

PAS central committee member Mohamad Sabu is leading in the race for the post of PAS deputy president, topping the nominations received by its incumbent Nasharudin Mat Isa over the weekend.

The former Kuala Kedah MP last tried for the PAS number two spot in 2009 but lost to Nasharudin.

PAS will hold its party polls during its 57th “muktamar” (annual general meeting) at Kolej Universiti Islam Zulkifli Muhammad, Taman Melewar, Gombak, early next month.

The deadline for nominations is May 15.

PAS party election Nasharudin may find challenger in Mat Sabu

Mohamad Sabu(R) is outspoken and enjoys a streetfighter image.Nasharudin Mat Isa (L) is known as a non-confrontational politician

IN a party characterised by fiery ceramah, Nasharudin Mat Isa is not a dazzling speaker.

More ominously for the non-confrontational politician, he has attracted an assortment of critics who are loudly suggesting -- ahead of the June 3-5 muktamar-cum-election -- that a contrasting personality should replace him.

They have just the man for the job; Mohamad Sabu is outspoken and enjoys a streetfighter image. He has been detained under the Internal Security Act twice and accused of khalwat (close proximity) some years back.

Fittingly, the former Kuala Kedah member of parliament is keen.