PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali will likely defend his current post in party elections due August, an aide to the economic affairs minister said.

Azmin will not go for the presidency as speculated, said his political secretary Mohd Hilman Idham.

“Azmin has welcomed the statement by (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim that he will run for party president and I am sure he (Azmin) will be offering himself to defend the deputy president’s post instead,” Hilman told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Hilman was responding to questions about pressure from party grassroots who wanted Azmin to face Anwar for the presidency.

But he said Azmin’s loyalty to Anwar for his leadership and sacrifices should not be disputed.

Azmin earlier today was coy about his intentions when approached by the media.

The new minister and Gombak MP said he had yet to make a decision and wanted to focus on the current Parliament session.

So far, PKR Women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has voiced her support for Azmin to contest the party’s top post.

Anwar, who obtained a royal pardon for a sodomy conviction after Pakatan Harapan won the federal government, earlier this week announced his intention to contest the PKR presidency, saying he had support from current president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Azmin.

Anwar is to eventually succeed PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister under an agreement reached by all coalition parties. He is also expected to contest in a by-election at some point so as to enter Parliament. – July 18, 2018.