PAS Dewan Ulama committee member Mokhtar Senik said this is to ensure that those who intend to challenge the positions currently held by Abdul Hadi Awang and Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man are qualified.

“If there are only two qualified candidates, then only those two should contest. Those who do not meet certain standards should be disqualified by the Syura Council,” Mokhtar said on Facebook today.

“The goal is to ensure the candidates for these top positions meet certain standards, because I worry that everyone thinks they are qualified.”

Hadi and Tuan Ibrahim are both members of the Syura Council, which is chaired by PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin.

Speculation had emerged that, for the first time, the president and deputy president’s posts might be contested at the party elections in September.

FMT reported that this may happen if Hadi, who has served as president since 2002, steps down, as urged by some members, because of his health.

At the same time, there are rumours that Tuan Ibrahim also intends to make way for new leadership, though there have been calls from the pro-ulama faction for him to defend the party’s No. 2 post.

As of now, both Hadi and Tuan Ibrahim have not made any decision on defending their positions.

The last time the top two posts were contested was in 2015 when Hadi defeated Ahmad Awang for the president’s post, and Tuan Ibrahim ousted Mohamad Sabu for the deputy presidency.

That election saw a showdown between the pro-ulama and professional factions, resulting in a mass exit of PAS leaders, including Mohamad, Khalid Samad and Dzulkefly Ahmad.

They went on to form Amanah, now a component in Pakatan Harapan.