00:00Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar may hold the Perikatan National Chairmanship,
00:05but analysts say he still lacks full backing from PAS to be named its prime ministerial candidate.
00:10International Islamic University Malaysia's Shaza Shukri described PAS's stance as puzzling,
00:17noting that while the party has positioned Samsuri as a candidate to take over as opposition leader in parliament,
00:23it has stopped short of endorsing him as its choice for prime minister.
00:27She added that whoever is named to succeed Hamzah Zainuddin as opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat
00:34should naturally be regarded as the bloc's prime ministerial candidate.
00:38Zaharuddin Muhammad, the son-in-law of PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang,
00:43recently said Samsuri was suitable as opposition leader, but not as the party's candidate for prime minister.
00:50Shaza suggested the unease stems from Samsuri's exclusion from PAS's ulama faction,
00:55which sparks fears the party is strained from its ideals.
00:59Nevertheless, she said Samsuri could win full party backing if all PN components endorse him.
01:06Academy Nusantara's Asmi Hassan said PAS must make a definitive choice on its prime ministerial candidate
01:13and stand by it, stressing that only a clear decision will put the matter to rest.
01:18Han Yeojo, FMD
01:19Han Yeojo, FMD
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