Farhash says PKR grassroots want 'rejuvenation', invited him to challenge S'gor MB for Gombak party post

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is set to be challenged as Gombak PKR division chief in the party's polls in April because certain grassroots leaders want a "rejuvenation" before the 15th General Election (GE15) is called, says Farhash Wafa Salvador.

The Perak PKR chief claimed he was invited by several grassroots leaders to challenge Amiruddin as the Gombak division chief.

"We know when it comes to politics, it's not my decision (alone). I was invited by old members and grassroots who wanted me to be there because the Gombak division needs 'rejuvenation'," he said.

In the PKR election in 2018, Amirudin won the Gombak division chief post by a majority of 1,115 votes after he secured 1,127 votes against his sole opponent, Datuk Mohamed Nizam Md Saad, who only garnered a mere 197 votes.

Farhash also said the Gombak PKR division is facing threats of "big names" and they are aiming to win back the Gombak parliamentary seat that was held by former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

"It's up to the party whether they want to field me there or in Perak," added Farhash.

Farhash said it was normal for party harmony to be disrupted during party elections, adding that it was part of the democratic process for party positions to be challenged.

"No seat belongs to anyone and that is why the party has elections every three years. Every position can be contested," he said.

Meanwhile, Farhash said he was still undecided on which PKR central leadership position he would contest when the party polls come in April.

"I will make that decision in March," Farhash added.

Farhash was PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former political secretary.

The PKR party elections in 2018 saw a close fight between Azmin and Rafizi Ramli for the deputy president position.

Azmin won with 71,635 votes against Rafizi who managed to secure 68,730.

Later, in February 2020, Azmin led a group of 10 PKR MPs to leave the party, eventually triggering the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

The departures of more PKR leaders ensued in the following months, among them former vice-president Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar, followed by Sarawak's Julau MP Larry Sng, Tebrau MP Steven Choong and others.