After two terms at the helm of PKR Youth, its leader Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin is unlikely to defend his post and is believed to be aiming for a vice-president’s post in the party polls.

If speculation proves right, it will allow supreme council members Badrul Hisham Shaharin and Mohd Rafizi Ramli to fight it out for the vacancy in the wing.

An announcement is expected at 3pm tomorrow at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

When c NONE ontacted, Shamsul Iskandar (right) , 36, declined comment beyond saying “wait for the announcement tomorrow”.

However, a source close to him said he decided on the move after considering appeals by the wing that a “young leader” be given a bigger role in the central leadership.

“He also considered the fact that there will be vacancies at the vice-presidents’ level because Azmin Ali and Mustafa Kamil Ayub are expected to contest the deputy presidency,” said a source.

It had been initially speculated that Shamsul Iskandar and Badrul Hisham were frontrunners in the contest to head the Youth wing. There were efforts to convince them to join forces to ensure a win-win situation.

So far, only Mohd Rafizi has thrown his hat into the ring, but it is widely known that divisional leader Hasmi Hashim is also eyeing the post.

The more experienced Badrul Hisham is now expected to cruise to victory as Mohd Rafizi and Hasmi are deemed to be lightweights.