IT’S AZMIN VS RAFIZI FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Anwar wins presidency unchallenged
THE stage is set for a showdown between Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli for the PKR deputy presidency. The move ends speculation that Azmin would challenge his mentor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for the party’s top post.
Azmin’s bid to defend the deputy presidency, a position he has held since 2010, was confirmed by his political secretary, Mohd Hilman Idham, after nominations closed for the PKR elections yesterday.
Hilman was the proposer, while Amirudin Shari, who is Selangor menteri besar, was the seconder.
Amirudin said Azmin could not submit his forms as he was in Singapore for work.
“The decision to defend his post was made after discussions with the party’s top leadership as well as grassroots.”
Previously, there were rumours that Azmin would make a lastminute bid to challenge Anwar for the presidency.
Rumours grew after Azmin, who is economic affairs minister, was appointed a board member of national sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd, seen as a strong indicator that he would go for the top post.
Rafizi had, on July 26, confirmed that he would contest the deputy president’s post, and he made it official by submitting his nomination form yesterday.
Rafizi made waves late last month when he claimed that several party leaders, who have since moved into positions of power, had “forgotten their roots” and sidelined the party’s original purpose of championing the people’s rights.
Meanwhile, Anwar is set to become the new PKR president after winning the contest unopposed.
PKR party election committee secretary Ismail Yusof confirmed that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail did not send in any nomination form.
Anwar’s nomination was proposed by Dr Wan Azizah and seconded by outgoing PKR strategy director Sim Tze Tzin, with the nomination form sent in shortly after 11am.
Anwar’s win was announced by PKR election committee chairman Datuk Rashid Din at 5.30pm.
“Confirmation of his win will be discussed at the election committee meeting and will be announced to the media on Aug 8,” he said at PKR’s headquarters.
The contest for the vice-presidency looks set to be a packed field, with 12 members gunning for four posts.
Four contestants are incumbents — Permatang Pauh member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar, Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar and former Batu MP Tian Chua.
New faces vying for the vicepresidency include Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen, Puchong PKR member Michael Tamil, Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan, Padang Serai PKR member Professor Datuk Dr G. Balasubramaniam and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin.
PKR’s 20-seat central leadership committee will be contested by 86 candidates.
A surprise was on the cards in the fight for the Wanita PKR chief position when Dr Fuziah Salleh, who was PKR vice-president, announced her bid for the post. She will face Hanizah Talha, who is deputy Wanita PKR chief.
The fight for the PKR Youth chief post looks to be a hotlycontested one, with a three-cornered battle between Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasir, Kota Anggerik assemblyman Mohd Najwan Halimi and Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin.
Ismail said the names of all the candidates would be displayed at the party’s headquarters and members had three days to file appeals or objections.
After the period, the candidate list will be finalised.
The drawing of lots for candidates’ numbers will be held on Aug 19.
“Pictures and numbers of candidates will be displayed on tablets that will be used during voting, as part of the e-voting system,” Ismail said.