CANDIDATE for PKR deputy president, Rafizi Ramli, said today he was going for the number two post to help Anwar Ibrahim become prime minister.

This was the main reason that he, despite not being an elected representative and having no other party position, was going to contest the post currently held by Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“I do not worship Anwar, but Anwar must be the country’s next prime minister. Therefore he needs the full support from leaders of this party,” Rafizi said at the #Reformasi20Tahun event today in Kuala Lumpur where he also introduced other party election candidates who are backing him.

Anwar, the de facto leader, is so far the only candidate for party president. Under an agreement between all Pakatan Harapan parties, he is to be the eighth prime minister, replacing 93-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The timeline for the succession is supposed to be two years.

Rafizi, who currently is vice-president, today unveiled his ‘team’. They are:

Vice-president candidates: Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh MP), William Leong (Selayang MP), Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani MP) and S Kesavan (Sungai Siput MP).

Wanita chief: Fuziah Salleh, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Kuantan MP.

Wanita deputy chief: Rodziah Ismail, Selangor’s Batu Tiga assemblyman.

Youth chief: Akmal Nasir, Johor Baru MP.

Rafizi said Nurul Izzah would make her own announcement for her vice-president bid.

“I am grateful that she has decided to be with us and to work with us, and she will be our first vice-president candidate,” he said.

Party elections are from September 14 to October 7, when 800,000 members will vote in stages through an electronic polling system.

Rafizi’s bid for deputy president will make the post the most hotly contested one if Azmin decides to defend it. The former Selangor menteri besar has been coy whether he will take up Rafizi’s challenge or go against Anwar for the presidency.

Rafizi today gave his other reasons for contesting the deputy president’s post.

He said PKR must recapture its Reformasi spirit to stay true to its path even though the party is part of the ruling government now.

“Reformasi must not stop even when we are the government in power. We should stand by it as we do not want others to be marginalised, we must not become an oppressor to others.

“We must reject feudalism, kissing the hands of our leaders, money politics, and hunger for power. Each of us must object to this filthy culture,” he said.

He added that he wanted to provide better welfare for PKR members.

Others in his team of candidates for PKR’s central committee are: S. Streram (former candidate for Rantau), Abdullah Sani (Kapar MP), Aminuddin Harun (Negeri Sembilan menteri besar), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Ledang MP), Dr Idris Ahmad (Ijok assemblyman), Wong Chen (Subang MP), Lee Chean Chung (Semambu assemblyman), June Leow (Hulu Selangor MP), R. Summugam (Bukit Selambau assemblyman), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa MP), Abdul Halim Hussain (Batu Maung assemblyman), and G. Manivanan (former candidate for Hutan Melintang).

Also named were PKR Klang division chief Bun Lai, former Lumut MP Mohamad Imran Abd Hamid, Dr Zaleha Ismail, Merbok MP Nurin Aina and Mohd Amin Abdul, a Sabah PKR state representative. – July 29, 2018.