THE contest for the PKR deputy president’s post will see a straight fight between incumbent Azmin Ali and outgoing vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Azmin confirmed that he will defend his post after submitting his nomination papers at 4.45pm at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

The nomination papers were submitted by his proposer, Hilman Idham, and seconder, Selangor Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shari.

“His decision is made based on discussions with all quarters, including the party’s de facto leader (Anwar Ibrahim).

“Azmin has decided to defend his deputy president’s post,” Amiruddin said.  

Azmin became the PKR deputy president in 2010, replacing Syed Husin Ali.

The former Selangor menteri besar, who is now the economic affairs minister, and his camp have been accused of turning their backs on PKR’s reformist movement – among the main reasons cited by the Rafizi camp for their man’s fight for the deputy president’s post.

While Rafizi has his own band of loyalists in the party, Azmin also has his own strong supporters, including several PKR ministers.

Rafizi recently revealed his “20 tahun reformasi” (20 years of reform) team, which includes incumbent vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, and MPs Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani), William Leong (Selayang), and S. Kesavan (Sungai Siput). They are all gunning for the vice-president posts.

For the Wanita wing, Fuziah Salleh will go up against Haniza Talha while three Youth leaders – Afif Bahardin, Akmal Nasir, and Najwan Halimi – are vying for PKR Youth’s top post.

Anwar won the PKR president’s post uncontested. He will be replacing his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who opted not to contest in the party polls. – August 5, 2018.