Surendran, Baru, Jui Meng named PKR VPs in multiracial line-up

Wan Azizah

Malaysia Chronicle

UPDATED PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sprang a surprise when she named fast-rising human rights lawyer N Surendran as one of the party's new vice president along with Johore chief Chua Jui Meng and Sarawak strongman Baru Bian.

"This team is a mix of young and experienced faces. We hope that this combination will infuse Keadilan with vigor and strength to remain at the forefront of new politics and the agenda for change. We are confident that this very multi-racial and capable team will be accepted by voters," Azizah told a press conference on Saturday afternoon.

As expected, she also named Youth chief aspirant Rafizi Ramli as the new director of strategy replacing Tian Chua, who won one of the 4 contested VP posts in PKR's recent historic direct elections.

Like Tian, Fuziah Salleh also won a VP post and relinquished her Elections director portfolio to new deputy president Azmin Ali, who is also the Gombak MP. Azmin was unavailable for comment as he had led a Pakatan team on a roadshow to East Malaysia.

A call to serve the nation

Surendran

Outgoing VP Sivarasa Rasiah and Selangor deputy chief minister Xavier Jeyakumar were inducted into the political bureau.

"I don't regard this as a call to politics but as a call to serve the nation at a critical juncture," the 44-year old Surendran told Malaysia Chronicle.

A new post, Legal bureau, was created for prominent lawyer Latheefa Koya, who relinquished her Information chief post to Dr Nur Manuty.

Manuty will be assisted by two deputies - Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tsin and Animah Ferrar.

Functionaries

Nik Nazmi

Nik Nazmi, the Communications director, and secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution retained their positions.

Saifuddin will be assited by Sabah youth leader Darrell Leiking, T Kumar, Steven Choong and Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

Tian

"I think this is the best team yet. It has all round strength with a mix not only in ages but experience and skills. Women also play a big part of this group and so do capable professionals. I am confident PKR has found its core and we can finally move head as a team," Nik Nazmi toldMalaysia Chronicle.

"For me, the most vital ingredient is that this time, PKR chose a group of functionaries - people who can administer, manage and care for the party. Emphasis was not given to political profile. That is a separate element and a separate skill that PKR will tap into separately," Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

SENARAI LANTIKAN MAJLIS PIMPINAN PUSAT PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT

18 DISEMBER 2010

KETUA UMUM: YB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
PRESIDEN: DATO’ SERI DR. WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
TIMBALAN PRESIDEN: YB MOHAMED AZMIN ALI
SETIAUSAHA AGUNG: YB SAIFUDDIN NASUTION*
NAIB PRESIDEN: YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
YB CHUA TIAN CHANG (TIAN CHUA)
YB FUZIAH SALLEH
YB DATO’ HAJI MANSOR OTHMAN
DATO’ CHUA JUI MENG*
BARU BIAN*
N. SURENDRAN*
KETUA WANITA: YB HAJJAH ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN
KETUA ANGKATAN MUDA: SHAMSUL ISKANDAR MOHD AKIN
BENDAHARI AGUNG: YB WILLIAM LEONG*
KETUA PENERANGAN: DR MOHD NOR MANUTY*
PENGARAH KOMUNIKASI: YB NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD*
PENGARAH STRATEGI: RAFIZI RAMLI*
PENGARAH GUAMAN: LATHEEFA KOYA*
PENGARAH JAWATANKUASA DISIPLIN: DATO DR TAN KEE KWONG*
AHLI BIRO POLITIK (LANTIKAN):
YB SENATOR DR. SYED HUSIN ALI*
YAB TAN SRI DATO’ SERI ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM*
YB SIVARASA RASIAH*
YB DR XAVIER JAYAKUMAR*
AHLI BIRO POLITIK (LANTIKAN) /:
MUSTAFFA KAMIL AYUB* PENGARAH LATIHAN
TIMBALAN SETIAUSAHA AGUNG:
BADRUL HISHAM SHAHARIN*
T. KUMAR*
STEVEN CHOONG*
IGNATIUS DARELL LEIKING*
TIMBALAN KETUA PENERANGAN:
YB SIM TZE TZIN*
HAJJAH ANIMAH FERRAR*
IR MUTHIAH*
* merupakan lantikan yang dibuat pada Mesyuarat Majlis Pimpinan Pusat KEADILAN pada 18 Disember 2010