In the running: (From left) Nik Nazmi, Chang, Ramanan, Dr Sathia Prakash, Sim, Hee, Abun Sui and Yuneswaran.
KUALA LUMPUR: At least eight big names have entered the fray for the PKR vice-presidents’ elections on the first day of nominations for the party’s central leadership.
The deputy president post, which is seen as the hottest seat of this year’s party election, has yet to receive any nominations as at press time.
Incumbent Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is expected to defend the position, with two other big names Nurul Izzah Anwar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail speculated to take him on for the party’s no.2 post.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad will be defending his vice-president post, despite his defeat in the Setiawangsa division polls. He had lost to Datuk Afdlin Shauki at division level.
Another incumbent to defend his vice-president post is Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
Others who have thrown their hats into the ring are Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, Selangor exco man Hee Loy Sian, Senator Abun Sui Anyit and Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek will also be defending her Wanita PKR chief’s post while Juwairiya Zulkifli will be defending her position as deputy chief.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil will be running for the Central Leadership Council (MPP) post along with Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, who is also a former Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) chief.
Datuk Hans Isaac and former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik too have also submitted their papers for MPP posts. The MPP post received a total of 58 nominations.
It is believed that deputy youth and sports minister and current youth chief Adam Adli has also entered the fray.
The nominations are done online and can only be accessed by party members.
The national congress for the Youth and Wanita wings has been rescheduled for May 23 from the previous May 21-22.
PKR secretary-general Dr Fuziah Salleh said the dates were adjusted following an official request from AMK and Wanita Keadilan.
“The adjustment was done to ensure the smooth implementation of the congress and provide a more comfortable space for all delegates,” she said in a statement today.
The opening ceremony for the AMK and Wanita Keadilan Congress will be held simultaneously at 8pm on May 22, at the JB Expo, Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Baru.
The congress proper for both wings will be held from 7am to 6pm the next day.
The 2025 PKR elections for the MPP, AMK Leadership Council and Wanita Keadilan Leadership Council (MPWK) levels will also take place on the same day.
