Khalid joins PKR No. 2 race, Tian still undecided, Nurul won't

Focus of No. 2 race shifts to Azmin vs Khalid

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has decided to join the fray for the PKR deputy presidency in a move that party insiders say will bode ill for rival contestant Zaid Ibrahim as it will surely split the 'liberal' vote in PKR down the line.

Long-time vice presidents Azmin Ali and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub are also bidding for the post that incumbent Syed Husin Ali has decided not to defend.

Another PKR stalwart Tian Chua is due to decide within the next few days whether to make it a five-cornered fight.

"Basically whether it is a straight fight, four or five-cornered fight, Azmin has a comfortable lead. If he loses, it will be a major upset that none of the seasoned PKR watchers really believe will happen," a PKR insider told Malaysia Chronicle.

"The reason is because Azmin has always been seen as Anwar's loyal deputy. So even if not his anointed successor, at the very least the No. 2 guy in PKR because he was one of the founders and is a competent politician in his own right."

Non-Azmin vote will go to Khalid rather than Zaid

Most members joined PKR because of de-facto head Anwar Ibrahim, who formed the party following his shock sacking as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia by former premier Mahathir Mohamad in 1998.

Tian - the real dark horse, more influential than he appears

Many are from Umno and Muslim youth movement ABIM. There is also a significant population of members tagged as 'reformists' or 'liberals', whose main purpose in joining PKR is to help effect change for the better in Malaysia.

"It doesn't mean that the reformists don't favor Azmin. They know him from the past and many do like and accept him. Those who don't would have voted for Zaid, but because Zaid has more or less alienated everyone, they would have given their vote to Azmin or Mustaffa instead," the party watcher said.

"Now with Khalid joining, the non-Azmin vote will go to him instead of Zaid or Mustaffa. Khalid has done well as Selangor MB by staying above racial politicking. If Tian joins, the reformist vote will be split further as Tian is probably the one the reformists trust the most because they all know him so well. Even so, when you do the final tally, Azmin still has the edge and he should win comfortably provided there is no money politics and his supporters continue to work hard.

Zaid - shut out by Khalid

No way Nurul will go for No. 2

At his official residence in Shah Alam, Khalid finally made his long-awaited announcement.

"I, Khalid Ibrahim offer myself to contest the deputy president post in the upcoming party polls," he said.

Zaid had previously said he would withdraw if Khalid decided to go for the same post but it appears the former Umno leader may have changed his mind.

Last week, Zaid suddenly announced that he would walk away from the No. 2 contest if Anwar's daughter Nururl Izzah decided to join the race, although she has never expressed interest in it before.

Nurul - to ignore Zaid's taunts

Party insiders said the chances of Nurul going for No. 2 was zero. They expect her to ignore Zaid's taunts.

"If Zaid wants to chicken out of the No. 2 race, he will have to do so without using Nurul as a stepping stone. I can assure you she will only go for one of the four vice-presidencies. Zaid can as usual try to make himself more important than he is by announcing he will go the No. 1 post rather than slug it out and lose in the No. 2. But he is welcome to try. Wan Azizah is not in any danger at all," said the insider, referring to president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who will be defending her post.