Outgoing PKR Women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has urged her party not to prevent its members from challenging any party post, including the presidency - which will be contested by Anwar Ibrahim.

In the same statement, she also praised the capabilities of Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali.

"Azmin is among the dynamic leaders who are capable of leading. This was proven in the previous Selangor administration, his current senior government portfolio as economic affairs minister proves his contributions will have a positive impact in our joint efforts to steer our beloved PKR ship.

"As such, PKR Women stresses that besides welcoming Anwar's offers to contest the presidency, the party must also respect its constitution in opening space for a contest in any position without any hindrance," she said in a statement last night.

It is unclear if Zuraida's statement is a bid to push Azmin to challenge Anwar for the presidency.

Asked to clarify, Zuraida told Malaysiakini that Azmin was prepared to contest any position.

Malacca PKR Women chief Ginie Lim also issued a similar statement saying there should be no barrier preventing anyone from challenging Anwar, while also playing up Azmin's credentials.

Azmin is currently PKR’s deputy president.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution had previously told Malaysiakini that it was unlikely Azmin or anyone else would contest the presidency as long as Anwar or his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was leading the party.

Anwar has tried to contest the PKR presidency twice previously. 

In 2007, he pulled out of the contest after the Registrar of Societies threatened to ban PKR as he was still serving a five-year ban from politics after his 2004 release from jail. 

During the same year, the PKR congress passed a motion to make him de facto party leader. 

He similarly aborted plans to contest in 2014, after the Court of Appeal found him guilty in his second sodomy trial.

As for Zuraida, the local government and housing minister will not be defending her post as PKR Women chief.

However, she told reporters at Istana Negara yesterday that she had yet to decide which top post she would contest in the party polls.

Nominations for this year's PKR election must be submitted by July 29, with polling set to begin at the end of August.