'New PAS veeps can perform better' - Salahuddin

He said, the balloting trend at the 61st PAS general assembly (muktamar) this time around showed that delegates were ready to accept a particular group to lead the party.

"From the trend, it seems that they (delegates) favour a specific group.

"I respect that… because that is their choice," Salahuddin said when met at the muktamar today.

In fact, he said, the delegates’ decision should be respected by all parties.

Salahuddin, who is former Kubang Kerian MP, said he was satisfied with the results of the party election.

He said the new leadership should be given a chance because they have their own mission and their approach seems to be more fitting to today’s political landscape.

At the muktamar yesterday, Central Committee member Idris Ahmad, Kelantan PAS Commissioner 1 Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah who is also the state's Deputy Menteri Besar, and Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad were elected as the new vice-presidents after receiving 869 votes, 710 votes and 672 votes, respectively.

The trio is part of the pro-ulama group.

They replaced professional incumbents Salahuddin, Datuk Mahfuz Omar and Datuk Husan Musa who only garnered 435 votes, 378 votes and 317 votes, respectively.

Mohamad Sabu lost his deputy presidency to Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who is an ulama leader.

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang managed to retain his presidency after obtaining a 695 vote-majority against Ahmad Awang.

It was the first time Abdul Hadi was challenged in his 12 years of holding the position.

A total of 1,189 delegates had voted at the muktamar yesterday.