Anwar looks set to become PKR president after winning post uncontested

PETALING JAYA: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unofficially won the post of PKR president without contest when no other individual sent their nomination form yesterday to challenge him in the 2018 PKR election.

Secretary of the Central Election Committee (JPP) Ismail Yusof, however, said the official announcement would be made on Aug 19 after the election and confirmation process had been made by the JPP.

Anwar’s name was proposed by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is not defending the party president’s post which she currently holds, and was submitted by PKR Strategic Director Sim Tze Tzin as supporter at about 11.15 am. Speaking to reporters after the nomination of candidates was closed at the PKR Headquarters, yesterday afternoon, Ismail announced that the JPP received the nomination forms for PKR vicepresident from Rafizi Ramli who would challenge incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali for the deputy president’s post.

For the post of vice-president, 12 nomination forms were received.

They included four individuals who are defending their posts namely Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament (MP) Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kuala Langat MP Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar, former Batu MP Tian Chua and Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. The others are Selayang MP William Leong, Subang Jaya Municipal Council former Member Micheal Tamil, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin, Prof Datuk Dr G. Balasubramaniam, Terengganu PKR chairman Azan Ismail, K. Vasantha Kumar, Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul and Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan.

For the post of PKR Wanita head, nomination forms were received from Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh and State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Lembah Jaya Haniza Mohamed Talha.

Nomination forms for the post of Keadinan Youth (AMK) head were received from Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Kota Anggerik State Assemblyman Mohd Najwan Halimi and AMK Deputy Head Dr Afif Bahardin.

For positions in the Central Leadership Council (MPP), 86 nominations were received including from the Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, PKR Director of Communications Fahmi Fadzil and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the nomination list would be screened by the JPP to check whether the candidates were eligible to contest or otherwise.

He said that besides checking the bankruptcy status and duration of party membership, candidates with disciplinary problems would also be rejected.

“We will check with the disciplinary board first, for example a candidate who had stated his or her intention to leave the party, contest in the general election as an independent candidate would be rejected,” he said adding that the process would take three days.

Thereafter, he said, objections could be submitted and appeals for nomination that has been rejected could be submitted beginning August 8 to 14. The final list would be known on Aug 16 and announced on Aug 19.

Thereafter, he said, objections could be submitted and appeals for nomination which had been rejected could be submitted from Aug 8 to 14. The final list would be known on Aug 16 and announced on Aug 19, he said.

About 800,000 PKR members are eligible to vote at the party election scheduled from Sept 14 until Oct 13.