PKR vice-president Azmin Ali has finally announced his candidacy for the party deputy presidency following discussions with, among others, outgoing deputy president Syed Husin Ali.

"After considering the opinions of the top leadership, party members and direct discussions with Syed Husin, I would like to offer my services for deputy presidency with much humility and tawadhu'

(humbleness)," he said in a statement.

Azmin's announcement was made during a press conference in Kota Kinabalu today, where he is attending Malaysia Day functions. 

"Along with fellow leaders and party members, I will work with them to promote our ideas, instill loyalty and strengthen our organisation.

"I also aim to ensure that the 2010 party elections will be held in a healthy atmosphere and in with a family spirit throughout the campaign and polls," he said.

In a carefully worded statement, Azmin also invoked his credentials as party leader who had been struggling for the party since its inception and vowed to carry on with the party's "team spirit".

By leveraging on his track record and understanding of the inner workings of his party, Azmin is taking subtle jabs on his main opponent Zaid Ibrahim, whom detractors claim lack teamwork and experience in the party.

Taking into account of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's vow to stay out of the polls, Azmin said that he staunchly supports the former to maintain his informal position.

"I wish to reiterate my undivided support to Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto leader of the party and Dr Wan Azizah Ismail as the party president," he said.

Will carry on Syed Husin's struggles

Azmin also heaped praises at Syed Husin, who has decided not to defend the post, for his contributions to the party and principles, which he vows to uphold, adding that this was an inspiration for party members.

"His principles is an become the criteria for a party leader. These includes loyalty to the party struggle, party discipline, war against corruption and upholding high moral values. These should be held by all party members," he said.

A

azlan zmin is hot favourites for the deputy president's post but faces a respectable challenge from Zaid, who has just had his first anniversary as a PKR member. 

Last week, Azmin's campaign was bouyed by the pledge of allegiance from a group of PKR MPs and state assemblypersons.

Azmin is both Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyperson. 

However, another group calling itself the Majlis Muafakat Kepimpinan Keadilan Selangor (Selangor Keadilan Leadership Consensus Council) are campaigning for either Syed Husin or Wan Azizah to be made deputy president, thereby avoiding a battle between Azmin and Zaid.

More than 200 of the party's divisions throughout the country will began nominating candidates for the central leadership by the end of this month. 

Aspiring candidates need only two nominations to be in the running. 

Their fates will eventually be determined by about 400,000 members through direct elections in November. 

'No split in PKR if campaign is clean'