PKR polls will see intense competition for party’s four vice-presidents
PETALING JAYA: Being the Prime Minister’s party, PKR is very likely to see a crowded field for its central leadership election come May 24, but for the party’s top two posts, it is an entirely different story.
PKR president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is almost certainly not facing an opponent as he enters his third and final term.
The party No. 2, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli – whom the president has endorsed – also seems likely to retain the post uncontested to continue his second term as deputy president.
Some PKR leaders have called on the party to push the younger talent to the fore in the upcoming polls and not depend solely on the popularity of its seniors.
Outspoken Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said it is acceptable for Rafizi to remain as deputy president uncontested if no one is willing or confident enough to challenge him.
“If the call to avoid contests comes from the grassroots level, such as from branches or divisions, it is not problematic.
“The danger is when the directive to leave the president or deputy president posts uncontested comes from the top.
“This is unhealthy, undemocratic and risks turning PKR into a guided democracy – one led from above,” said the former Johor PKR chairman yesterday.
He warned that such practices could stifle the emergence of new leaders and threaten the party’s long-term vitality, especially once Anwar concludes his presidency.
Incumbent vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said a crowded field is natural in a democracy, especially for a party in power.
“The key is to have both quality and quantity. I would like to think this is possible as PKR has always been a big tent – a national, multiracial party.
“PKR has been open to younger talent – I am a good example, as are many others. The party must also be relevant and effective in tackling the concerns of the young, rather than just having young faces.
“I believe it will be a competitive race, and I hope the process will be positive and friendly, and produce a line-up that will successfully realise our reform agenda and get our president Anwar to be the Prime Minister for a second term,” said the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister.
As a leader who has shown his seriousness in communicating PKR’s identity as a progressive, multiracial and national party, Nik Nazmi is hoping that he would be re-elected as one of the party’s four vice-presidents.
“At the same time, I work to hold the Opposition to account, to engage the party’s grassroots, as well as in preparing new leaders,” he added.
Political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali said as a party which plays on the popular issues of the people, PKR is very much dependent on well-known leaders in the spotlight.
“This means popular leaders will continue to play main roles in the country and will be chosen as election candidates.
“This is, however, not a good thing for the party as it does not nurture new blood,” he said.
Mazlan also warned that there may be teams or cliques in the party as Malaysian political parties often have, and reminded PKR that it was also started by former members of other parties.
The vice-president race is set to be an intense affair with six candidates declaring their intention to fight for the four spots.
Apart from Nik Nazmi, the other three incumbents – Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang – will defend their posts.
Joining the fray will be Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil – who is currently the party’s information chief.
There is talk that the PKR president’s political secretary G. Manivanan and former Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid are also considering throwing their hats into the ring.
PKR party election committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the 2025 polls have seen an extraordinary level of participation, with over 17,500 nominations received from 222 divisions nationwide.
