FRESH out of contentious party palls, newly crowned PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasir now faces the challenge of leading a fractured wing.

Akmal defeated Dr Afif Bahardin, an ally of incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, by a slim majority of 50 votes for the wing’s top post.

Akmal, who is an ally of Azmin’s challenger Rafizi Ramli, said he wished to focus on leading the Youth wing, but admitted it would not be an easy task rallying a splintered team.

When Akmal was announced the winner last night, Afif’s supporters reacted with jeers and objections.

However, the Johor Baru MP said he would not be distracted by his detractors.

“My first challenge is to ensure that the Youth wing focuses on the party struggle, which is really about putting the voice of the Youth as the base of our struggle. So we really have no time to find fault with one another,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“We also need to ensure that the organisation runs smoothly, and at the same time, ensure that both sides have a stake in the failure or success of the Youth wing.”

Political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Akmal would need to be firm in his decision-making as well as savvy in winning over his “enemies”.

“PKR needs to be careful as it main enemies come from within the party. Now, among themselves, there is envy and power play.

“Akmal needs to be firm and show the Youth members that he is in control, apart from winning the hearts of his opposers who lost in the election,” said the Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturer.

Unofficially, Azmin has succeeded in retaining the party deputy presidency

Candidates in Azmin’s camp  won the majority of the party posts, including two of the three vice-presidencies and the deputy Youth chief’s post.

Exco member candidates in Azmin’s camp won 17 of the 20 highest number of votes.

Nazree Yunus, newly elected vice-chief of the youth wing, was confident members would close ranks.

“Hilman and Afif have also pledged their support in a media conference, so I’m confident the Youth wing will unite and focus on lifting up the voices of the youth,” he said.

Kapar Youth chief Hariz Aizat said Akmal needed to work fast to raise the profile and image of the wing at the national level.

“He needs to be bolder, to be on par with youth leaders in the other (PH) component parties and even the opposition parties,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Dr Awang Azman said Akmal must be wise and appoint loyalists to buttress his position.

“He must appoint people he trusts, but he must also bring in some of his political enemies to build up the wing to be stronger,” he said.

Akmal may appoint up to 10 office bearers in the Youth wing, including the secretary-general, treasurer, strategic director and five exco members. – November 17, 2018.