PKR not short of leaders, must have constant renewal - Nik Nazmi

INTERVIEW | PKR is not short of leaders who are prime minister material, according to its vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Speaking to Malaysiakini in an interview, the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister named several leaders he thinks can succeed Anwar Ibrahim as PKR president and the country’s top executive.

“We have leaders like Rafizi Ramli, who is the party deputy president. We have Saifuddin Nasution (Ismail). So I think, if you ask me, those are the two most senior leaders in the party.

“Next in line, I mean, among the vice-presidents, you have people like Amirudin Shari, you have Nurul Izzah, you have, I mean, I am also one of the vice-presidents, so I think, in that sense, we are not short of talent to fill in in the future,” he said.

The interview was held last week in conjunction with PKR’s 25th anniversary, which fell on April 4.

Nik Nazmi was asked who he thinks can lead the country and PKR besides Anwar, given that the party practically started as a movement of Anwar’s supporters in 1999 and had always been synonymous with the “Reformasi” figure.

Rafizi is the current economy minister while Saifuddin, who is the PKR secretary-general, holds the home affairs portfolio. Amirudin, meanwhile, is the current Selangor menteri besar while Nurul Izzah, who is Anwar’s daughter, has no government post.

When asked if he sees himself as a future prime minister, Nik Nazmi gave a modest response.

“Well, I don’t really seriously consider that. I think if you ask me, 10-20 years (from now), after, maybe sometime as a minister, then I would love to either run a book-shop or run a football club.

“I think that’s more rewarding to me. I mean you know the public criticisms and whatnot... not to say that you run a football club, it’s just as bad probably but perhaps it’s something less taxing,” he said.

Speaking of his political career, the Setiawangsa MP plans to defend his vice-president post when the party holds its leadership election next year.

Nik Nazmi said he believes Anwar and Rafizi would defend their positions, and he has no plan to go beyond vice presidency.

Rafizi Ramli

“I am already vice president. It’s a big job as it is, and I think I will focus my efforts there.”

Rejuvenating the party

Touching on PKR’s rejuvenation after the party’s presence in the last 25 years, Nik Nazmi believed they were on the right track.

He said PKR has a “very young” leadership line-up that not many other parties have, where its deputy president and vice presidents are in their 40s.

The youngest among the current MPs are also from PKR, with ages ranging between 20s and early 30s, he added.

However, Nik Nazmi noted the need for PKR to keep up the process of rejuvenating the party which he said has become more challenging as it becomes more established and structured.

“One of the things that I’m starting this year is a programme like a Keadilan Fellowship Programme to bridge the gap between people interested in being active in the party and the party structure.

“Because there is a gap. Not everyone understands how to go through politics. But they have the talent.

“And we have one million members. We have a lot of people who are ordinary members, but they don’t know how to bridge that gap.

“We are trying to do that so we can continue to draw in the best talents,” he said.

According to Nik Nazmi, PKR also has to be strategic to ensure every group in society is well represented in the party.

“We need to be actively involved to ensure there’s enough female leaders, young leaders, Indian leaders, bumiputera Sabah-Sarawak, Chinese, and so on.

“So, I think, because we are a multiracial party, that is the consideration that we have. To continue rejuvenating the party leadership.” - Mkini