KUALA LUMPUR: Fostering young talent within the party will be a key focus for Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad if he wins the vice-presidency in the upcoming PKR polls.
"I think Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, our Prime Minister and PKR president, often mentions his success in grooming leaders like Rafizi Ramli, Chang Lih Kang, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Datuk Fahmi Fadzil," he said.
"Most of us are now in our 40s, the challenge is who comes next," he added on Monday (March 24) at the Concorde Club meeting.
The Concorde Club is an informal gathering of editors and senior journalists with politicians, policymakers and key opinion leaders.
Previous guests of the Concorde Club, led by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, included senior ministers and government leaders.
Nik Nazmi admitted PKR previously faced challenges in finding candidates for general elections under the party's ticket.
"Amirudin and I managed to contest because we didn't have enough candidates then," he said.
"Now, there is a long queue of people wanting to contest. How do we not become victims of our own success,” he added.
He stressed the importance of attracting young, idealistic, professional Malaysians into the party.
Nik Nazmi, Amirudin, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Chang and Nurul Izzah Anwar have expressed their intention to contest the vice-presidency posts.
Fahmi, the Communications Minister, and PKR deputy information chief Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, who is also the Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, will contest for the vice-president post.
The PKR central leadership elections are scheduled for May 24.
