A heated battle is expected for the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president post, with a possible three-cornered fight on the cards, come the party polls next week.

However, it is said chances are slim that a candidate will qualify to contest incumbent president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during the party's first national congress in Perak from Dec 17-19.

Other key posts are also up for grabs.

Addressing rumours that ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim had advised against a contest for the deputy president post, incumbent Dr Syed Husin Ali said today he was not aware that the former had made such a call.

"I don't know. He is the party advisor, and he will advise on the appropriate matters, but this is up to the delegates to determine (whether there will or will not be a contest)," he added during a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Shah Alam.

The contest for the number two post is expected to be between Syed Husin, vice-president Mohd Azmin Ali and former secretary -general Abdul Rahman Othman.

Syed Husin also disclosed that he and Anwar received nominations for the president's post but as there were no second nominations to qualify either of them, Wan Azizah retained the seat.

He said current Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor may also face a contender to his position as some of the party divisions have submitted at least two nominations each for an unknown number of candidates for the post.

"For the position (presently filled by) Ezam as head of PKR's Youth wing, there were other nominations, but whether it will actually be contested or not, that we do not know yet. But there have been candidates with more than two nominations," he added.

He said the confirmation for the line-up of candidates to the party's Supreme Council, Youth and Women's wings will only be announced on Dec 15 following nominees' confirmation as to whether they will or will not contest.

Venue problem

It was reported earlier that PKR had been forced to change the venue of its congress from its preferred choice of Poi Lam Independent School in Ipoh due to political pressure from the government and MCA.

Commenting on this, Syed Husin said PKR would wait "until the last day" for the Perak state education department to announce its approval for Poi Lam to rent its facilities to the opposition party.

However, invitation cards have already been printed indicating Tow Boo Keong Hall, also in Ipoh, as the venue of the gathering.

According to Syed Husin, the national congress, PKR's first since coming into existence with the merger of Wan Azizah's Keadilan and Syed Husin's Parti Rakyat Malaysia, will deliberate resolutions calling for the fair and equitable distribution of wealth irrespective of race and religion, accountability over the use of public funds, and the fight to eradicate corruption.

Also present at the press conference was Youth vice-chief Faizal Sanusi, who said the Youth wing assembly will, in addition to resolutions on fighting corruption and press freedom, see the launch of an anti-corruption committee on Dec 17.

He said this body will be geared towards affecting change on the ground, as opposed to the conventional watch-dog committees that have long filed reports with the police, Anti-Corruption Agency, and other government agencies.

"What we are talking about is something that is more action-oriented. Previously, we had made police reports and reports to the ACA, among other agencies.

"This new body will compile all of the information that we have and take stern action ... This body will be responsible for leadership training and the political education of our Youth wing members," he added.