Multi-cornered fights in PKR polls proves party’s popularity, says veep

 PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang says the contest between Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar for the deputy president’s post reflects the party’s dynamism.

Science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang is one of 11 candidates eyeing four vice president slots at PKR’s triennial election scheduled for next Friday.

PETALING JAYA:

 The intense competition for leadership positions at the upcoming PKR polls is testament to the party’s growing popularity, a senior leader says, as two heavyweights vie to be deputy president while eight others seek the vice-presidency.

Dispelling concerns that the contest for the party’s number two post would split the party, Chang Lih Kang said it instead reflects the party’s dynamism.

“Everyone wants to contribute,” Chang told FMT in an exclusive interview.

Vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar is challenging incumbent Rafizi Ramli for the deputy presidency at the polls, scheduled for May 23.

Chang, the science, technology and innovation minister, is among the 11 candidates eyeing four vice president slots at the triennial election.

Selangor menteri besar and state PKR chairman Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar and state PKR chairman Aminuddin Harun, and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad are also seeking another three-year term as vice-presidents.

Also vying for the post are Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, deputy entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister R Ramanan, Segamat MP R Yuneswaran, party deputy secretary-general Dr N Sathia Prakash, senator Abun Sui Anyit, former Selangor exco member Hee Loy Sian, and former vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.

Chang said the party has come a long way since its disastrous outing at the 11th general election (GE 11) in 2004, when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led Barisan Nasional to a landslide victory.

PKR, established one year earlier, won only one of the 34 parliamentary seats it contested — the Permatang Pauh constituency, courtesy of Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Chang said the party was at its lowest ebb at the time, unable to woo supporters and struggling to convince its members to stand as candidates.

“Some members were even reluctant to be named as village heads,” he said.

Despite this, Chang said he was not discouraged.

“We needed to convince ourselves that we were doing the right thing, and that people will realise it one day.”

At GE 12 four years later, BN would lose the states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan to the opposition — then made up of PKR, DAP and PAS — and its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

For Chang, the fact that many members are now throwing their hats into the ring for the upcoming polls is a “positive development” for the party, although it may also open the party door to opportunists.

“We need to shield the party from such individuals,” he said. - FMT