The contest for PKR's four vice-president posts has turned more competitive as parliamentarians Nurul Izzah Anwar and N Gobalakrisnan announced today their intention to bid for one of the positions each.

Nurul Izzah, who is Lembah Pantai MP, declared that she would contest for the vice-president's position in the supreme council contrasting her earlier hesitation to contest any senior position in the party.

nurul izzah interview 090910 The demure Lembah Pantai division chief ( right ) has so far received eight nominations to run for vice -president. She will be issuing an official statement on the issue at her service center tomorrow.

Also bidding for the same post is Padang Serai PKR head and MP Gobalakrishnan, who had previously lost twice in his bid for a vice-presidency.

Announcing his bid in Petaling Jaya, Gobalakrishnan said this would be his third for the post in an attempt to oppose the ‘factionalism’ within the party.

Urging party members not to vote by faction, he said PKR’s top leadership should have a better representation of Indians to make sure 'the Indian voice' is heard.

Unhappy with Sivarasa

Hitting out at vice-president R Sivarasa, who is also the Subang MP, Gobalakrishnan accused him of not performing in addressing issues faced by the Indian community.

"I’m not happy with Sivarasa’s leadership. When I raised Indian issues, he never listens to me and he has not served the Indians," said Gobalakrishnan ( below, in dark suit ) pointing out that 10 representatives from various divisions in Selangor are backing his bid.

gobalakrishnan contest pkr vice president 220910 01 "This is my third time contesting a veep’s post. Just because I was not in Azmin's team, I (did not win) in previous polls," he said in reference to vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali.

Azmin, who is influential among the grassroots, will be vying for PKR’s deputy presidency.

Gobalakrishnan claimed he has seen a list of names making the rounds with an appeal to members to nominate and vote for the leaders on the list.

"I don't know where this list (came) from. Maybe (it's) a sabotage by our enemies outside the party. But I hope party members will reject all such misleading guidance."

Members should instead vote for those whom they believe can help the party and are committed to reformasi , he added.

‘Go for track record’

Asked his opinion on whether Azmin or supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim, Azmin’s contender, would make a better deputy president, Gobalakrishnan said:

"I urge the members to vote based on the leaders’ sacrifices for reform and not only the time they have been in the party.

NONE "Some people claim Zaid ( right ) cannot contest because he only joined the party a year ago. If that’s the case, I’ve been in party for 11 years should they should also include my name in the deputy president’s race as well."

He stressed that leaders should be chosen for their track record in contributing to the party and advised candidates to not parade Anwar’s name claiming that the de facto had endorsed them.

"Anwar’s name is selling like a hot cakes everywhere but no candidate should say he has the blessing of Anwar," said Gobalakrishnan suggesting that anyone seeking such endorsement be booted out.

‘Generasi Reformasi’ road show

Meanwhile, a contender for the party’s Youth chief position - Mohd Rafizi Ramli - announced that his ‘Generasi Reformasi’ team would be NONE kicking off on a nationwide road show covering 19 locations beginning tomorrow in Ampang.

"Besides taking in questions and having meeting with members, the Generasi Reformasi line-up will also be presenting our manifesto," said Rafizi ( left ) in a statement.

He said the team had adhered to election rules and had organised the road show and all the programmes without using the party premises or resources.

Boasting that their road show was an ‘innovation of democracy’, Rafizi encouraged all to come and evaluate them for their ‘ability, vision and charisma’.