Bukit Gelugor PAS has nominated former party vice-president Ahmad Awang to contest the post of president, which is currently held by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Penang PAS deputy commissioner, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said via voting yesterday, the division members unanimously nominated Awang for the post and agreed to retain Mohamad Sabu as deputy president.

"The decision to nominate Ustaz Ahmad Awang as president is based on several factors, including his initiative to form the coalition government comprising PAS, DAP and PKR in Perak in 2008, although Umno at that time invited PAS to form a government.

"His firmness in meeting the aspiration of the people who rejected Barisan Nasional is much appreciated, while his appreciation for the aspiration of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is much deeper and he is capable of developing good and principled ties with the components of PR," he said in a statement, here, Thursday.

Mujahid hoped the candidacy could spur PAS forward.

He said the meeting was also unanimous in picking himself, Datuk Husam Musa and Salahudin Ayob for the three vice-president posts.