http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.5/static/functions-formatting.html#FUNCTIONS-FORMATTING-DATETIMEMOD-TABLE
The page suggests that the pattern modifiers (e.g. 'FM') only apply for Date/Time Format.
But at least FM can also be used for number types:
select to_char(1,'(99999)')
UNION ALL
select to_char(1,'(FM99999)')
-----------------------------
( 1)
(1)
Maybe it would be sufficient to just add FM into the table 9.24
( http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.5/static/functions-formatting.html#FUNCTIONS-FORMATTING-NUMERIC-TABLE )
regards,
Marc Mamin