Nasharudin, Young Turks stand firm

By : Zubaidah Abu Bakar

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Nasharudin Mat Isa retains his post(left). Ahmad Awang is vice-president.

KOTA BARU: Pas delegates have voted in favour of the Young Turks, effectively endorsing their efforts to make the party more mainstream and progressive.

They, however, also voted for balance by sending some ulama to the central committee.

Nasharudin Mat Isa, who led the Young Turks’ sweep at the last muktamar, retained his post, defeating Datuk Harun Taib, the party’s second most senior ulama, after spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Nasharudin, a 45-year-old former lecturer, scored a convincing 574 to 367 win against Harun, who contested for the first time.

Harun, 63, took his defeat calmly although he was not present when the official results of the party elections held on Friday were announced by Wan Abdul Mutalib Embong, deputy chairman of the muktamar election committee.
A close aide of Harun said he was disappointed as he thought he had enough support to topple Nasharudin, after conservative candidates won posts in the youth and women’s wings as well as at divisional elections.

Nasharudin had also faced criticism from the conservatives for trying to change the party’s outlook.

Incumbent vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Mohamad Sabu, among the Young Turks, retained their posts.

Pas information chief and religious scholar Ahmad Awang filled the third spot, replacing Datuk Hassan Mohd Ali who did not seek re-election.

Husam garnered 831 votes, Mohamad (666) and Ahmad (427).

Three new faces — Mazlan Aliman (537) and Kelantan state executive councillors Nik Amar Nik Abdullah (522) and Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (504) — completed the 18 elected positions in the party’s 36-member central committee.

The top four spots went to the ulama group with Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man winning 821 votes, followed by Idris Ahmad (763), Abdul Ghani Shamsuddin (744) and Datuk Abu Bakar Chik (681).

The others are Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (668), Dr Lo’Lo Mohd Ghazali (651), Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman (639), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (636), Mujahid Yusof (620), Amiruddin Hamzah (605), Azizan Abdul Razak (601), Taib Azzamuddeen Mohd Taib (584), Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah (543), Dr Dzulkili Ahmad (541) and Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman (515).

Nasharudin vowed to continue the Young Turks’ "moderation" agenda. Asked whether the election results were a signal from the conservative group that the leadership needed to slow down, Nasharudin said decisions were reached by consensus after formal consultations.

Later, Harun congratulated Nasharudin and said he would continue to serve the party, in which he has been a member since 1966.