Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is PKR president. He is the only one nominated for the top post.
Spotlight on rising stars as they vie for PKR’s deputy president post
PETALING JAYA: The spotlight is now on the fight for the PKR deputy president’s post as two formidable figures offer themselves as candidates.
Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will defend his position as deputy president against vicepresident Rafizi Ramli.
Azmin’s nomination paper was filed at about 4.45pm on Sunday at the party’s headquarters, 15 minutes before nominations closed at 5pm.
His proposer was his political secretary Muhammad Hilman Idham and the nomination was supported by Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari.
During a press conference, Amirudin said that Azmin decided to defend the position he has held since 2010 following consultation with PKR’s top leadership, grassroots members, activists and community leaders.
“Azmin sends his regards to all party members as he is currently in Singapore for an official visit to discuss various issues relating to his portfolio as the Economic Affairs Minister.
“We hope that the selection will be made based on merit and the candidate’s contributions to the development of the party,” he told reporters during the event.
Despite repeated denials of the existence of any “camps” by the top party leaders, candidates aligned to either Azmin or Rafizi are contesting all positions right down to Youth chief.
Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said this will lead to a split of two camps within the party.
“Political camps are common in any parties. The fact is that party positions are limited and it requires the support of many members to win such posts.
“This will lead to a power struggle and subsequently the formation of a Rafizi and Azmin camp to increase their respective chances in winning,” he added.
For the first time in the party’s history, more than 10 candidates are vying for five vicepresident positions.
The incumbent vicepresidents defending their posts are Nurul Izzah Anwar, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin and Tian Chua.
Others contesting are Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Selayang MP William Leong, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan, Azan Ismail, Datuk Dr G. Balasubramaniam, K. Vasanthakumar and Michael Tamil.
Those said to be aligned with Rafizi’s camp include Kesavan, Leong and Johari.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh is contesting the Wanita PKR chief post with Batu Tiga assemblyman Dr Rodziah Ismail as her deputy.
They will be taking on Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohamed Talha with Sementa assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi as her deputy.
There will be a threecornered fight for the PKR Youth chief post between incumbent deputy AMK chief Dr Afif Bahardin, who openly supports Azmin, against Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Najwan Halimi.
There are 86 hopefuls for the central leadership council including Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, former Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusof and Amirudin.
They joined the list of contenders vying for 20 elected positions on PKR’s central leadership council.
The PKR party polls will see more than 900,000 members casting their votes which is set to begin in September and run for nine weeks.