Selangor MB sits out of VP race, gunning for central leadership post

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has joined the list of over 60 contenders vying for 20 elected positions on PKR's central leadership council.

Speaking at a press conference after submitting his nomination papers at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today, Amirudin said he would run for the position based on his experience as an appointed central leadership council member.

Asked to comment on earlier speculation that he would be running for one of the four vice-president posts, the Sungai Tua assemblyperson said he predicted that it would be a "crowded contest."

"I expected that it would be a crowded race. 

"But also I respect the more senior leaders who are expected to run for the position," he said, before revealing that he was nominated by PKR youth chief contender Afif Bahardin and seconded by Afif's running mate, Hilman Idham.

Sources had earlier told Malaysiakini that Amirudin was expected to run for vice-president.

"I was told he would be contesting a vice-president's post. He is, after all, a menteri besar, so the (vice-president) post would be fitting," said the PKR source.

An aide of Amirudin’s declined to comment at the time, only saying "I don't know what position he filled up in the form last night."

‘Team Rafizi, Team Azmin’

While PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has repeatedly denied the existence of "camps" within the party, Rafizi Ramli announced a full team for all central positions in his bid to become deputy president last week.

Rafizi's team includes four vice-president hopefuls, including Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan, Selayang MP William Leong and Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul.

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was also listed as part of his team, although she has yet to personally confirm this.

Other leaders speculated to run for the vice-president posts include Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, Deputy Rural Development Minister R Sivarasa, as well as incumbent vice-presidents Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin and Tian Chua.

Observers have claimed that the leaders who are not part of Rafizi's team are aligned to incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Azmin, however, has not revealed whether he would be defending his post against Rafizi, or take on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for the top spot.

It is understood that Azmin, who is currently in Singapore on official business, will be submitting his nomination papers today via a representative.

'Three-cornered fight for youth chief'

Breaking the notion of two warring camps in PKR, Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Najwan Halimi announced yesterday that he is running for youth chief, with Malacca PKR deputy youth chief Naqiuddin Nazrin as his deputy.

Najwan and Naqiuddin are the third pair of contenders for the PKR Youth posts.

Contesting as part of Rafizi’s team, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir was the first to declare his intentions for the youth chief post, with Sabah PKR Youth chief Raymond Ahuar as his running mate.

In a statement later, Akmal confirmed that entire team – three vice-president and 20 exco member contenders – submitted their nominations at the party's headquarters earlier this afternoon.

"We, as team 'Reformasi Muda', feel that we have the responsibility and we share the same ideals and goals to carry the Reformasi agenda, the struggles of Anwar Ibrahim, to realise it through policies and changes for the people, particularly the youths as our target group," he said.

Akmal and Ahuar were followed by Afif and Hilman Idham – both seen to be close associates of Azmin – announcing their candidacy.

The PKR election will commence on Aug 24, and take place over nine weeks. Results are expected to be announced in November. - Mkini