AMANAH president Mohamad Sabu faces stiff competition in the party polls, sources told The Malaysian Insight.

One said the strongest challenger for the top post was Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who is currently deputy president.

The sources confirmed there was already a campaign to get Mujahid and his team to dominate the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).

They said the goal was to have Mujahid’s supporters fill the 27 CEC positions.

Dominating the CEC would ease the former minister’s ascension to presidency, they said.

Amanah’s top leaders are not directly elected. Rather, those appointed to the CEC enter the running for top posts.

The sources said Mujahid’s camp has a good chance of winning.

“If they dominate the CEC, they will decide who fills the top posts – the president, the deputy, and the three vice-presidents.

“The contest for the presidency will then be between Mohamad Sabu and Mujahid, and the winning team will dominate the highest positions in the party.”

One source said a key figure in Mujahid’s team, Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat, has been tipped to be made deputy president if Mujahid’s backers win.

Notable Amanah leaders in Mujahid’s camp include Pahang chairman Zulkifli Mohamed, Penang chairman Roslan Ahmad, Manjoi assemblyman Asmuni Awi, and Senator Hatta Ramli, another source said.

Amanah’s polls are on December 23 and 24.

Mujahid has said he would take on more responsibilities if elected to one of the top five posts.

Another source said former vice-president Husam Musa might throw his hat in the CEC ring.

The source said Mohamad and Mujahid had persuaded Husam to join the contest.

“Husam is neutral – not aligned to Mohamad or Mujahid.”

Husam was former party vice-president before he quit the party in September 2020, citing dissatisfaction with Mohamad’s leadership.

Despite contesting for PKR in Pasir Mas in the 2022 general election, he remains an Amanah member.

“At the time, the rumours were that Husam was in a feud with Mohamad. To debunk the rumour, he simply resigned,” the sources said.

“It was the same when he gave up his Kubang Kerian seat in the 2004 general election to Salahuddin Ayub.

“He does not want any feuds or confrontations. If there should be a feud, he would be the one to give in,” they said.

The move to switch up the party leadership led to mixed reactions among grassroots, with some seeing it as an opportunity to invigorate Amanah before the next general election.

Sources said many grassroots members want the leadership to stay status quo because it is Mohamad’s last term as president, as per Amanah’s constitution that limits presidents to three consecutive terms. – November 27, 2023.