Zuhdi said the party had little choice but to make such a decision if it truly intends to implement the resolutions adopted at its last muktamar (general assembly).

“Appointing another figure as PN chairman to represent PAS would contradict PAS’s political principles,” he said in a Facebook post today.

“However, whoever eventually leads PN is up to the decision of the Supreme Council of the coalition. Most importantly, the chairmanship issue should not be a cause for splitting PN.”

Zuhdi’s statement comes a week after another party leader suggested party vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as a possible candidate to be PN chairman to replace Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned on Jan 1.

Hadi has expressed readiness to lead, with several names, including his own, under consideration, while speculation about the nomination of Samsuri, seen as a technocrat, arose after he had a “casual meeting” with Muhyiddin in recent days.

Zuhdi noted that PAS has long practised the principle of ulama leadership, which must continue if the party leads PN and eventually the government.

“The muktamar resolution that PAS should lead PN must be read together with the muktamar resolutions on ulama leadership that have been formulated since the early 1980s,” he said. “After that, almost every PAS muktamar has reiterated calls to strengthen ulama leadership.”

He added that those rejecting PAS’s political principles usually leave the party, citing the example of the group that later formed Amanah.