KUALA LUMPUR: After weeks of deliberation, Pas has decided on Dr Syed Azman Nawawi as its candidate for the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election scheduled for Jan 17, said party sources.
The selection of the Batu Burok assemblyman is the clearest sign yet that the two rival factions in Pas, the conservatives and the Erdogans, have declared a ceasefire following the death of Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Razali Ismail from the Barisan Nasional.
"Datuk Mustafa Ali has told the president that he does not want to be fielded to avoid being accused of exploiting his close relationship with Hadi (Datuk Seri Hadi Awang), but the president is not telling anyone who the candidate will be. At the last minute he may insist on Mustafa, but it is very unlikely," said a Pas insider.
State party chief Mustafa, who caused a stir in the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition for saying Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's plan to take over the federal government through defections would not materialise, is said to be leading a faction in Pas which favours fostering a closer relationship with Umno and is aligned to party president Hadi.
Hadi, who will announce the party's choice to run against BN's Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid at a public rally in Kuala Terengganu tonight, had met party spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat yesterday in Kota Baru to brief the Kelantan Menteri Besar on the selection of candidate.
Nik Aziz had earlier endorsed Mohamad Sabu, who contested the seat in the last general election, but was rejected by Terengganu party leaders who prefer local leaders.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Pas deputy chief Datuk Wan Mutalib Embong, who was also speculated to be nominated, had endorsed Syed Azman's candidacy, said another party official close to Hadi.
The selection of the candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election has been a contentious issue in Pas, resulting in the party commissioning two independent surveys. Both revealed that Syed Azman is the best candidate for the party.
A British-trained political scientist, Syed Azman had served in Indiana State University, the Japan Institute of Tokyo, University of Malaya and International Islamic University before winning the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in 1999.
He lost the seat in 2004, and was fielded in the Batu Burok state constituency in the last general election.
Adib Zalkapli
The Malaysian Insider
01/01/09
PEOPLE'S POWER
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