UPDATED 3.35PM | PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar has shrugged off allegations of “nepotism and cronyism” within the party's Selangor division, made by a youth leader who announced his resignation earlier today.

“That is his own choice to move out of the position that he has been nominated for.

“Whether or not there is nepotism or anything else, this is for the party to decide,” Xavier said when asked during a press conference in Putrajaya today.

He was referring to Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman, who stepped down as Selangor PKR Youth secretary.

Xavier added that such allegations were to be expected from factions ahead of the party elections.

In a statement following his resignation, Syed Badli had claimed democracy was “dead” within the state party and leaders were handing out political appointments as a way to solidify their influence and power.

To this, Xavier said he believed the rakyat cared less about party politics than they did about the effectiveness of the Pakatan Harapan government as a whole.

“The most important thing is to (fulfil) our promises in the GE14 (manifesto) and to bring about changes.

“I don’t think people look into how it is being done. People want it to be done.

“As leaders, we will make use of the best situation we have in order to get things done and deliver what we have pledged in our manifesto,” he said. 

No need for ‘de facto’ post 

Meanwhile, Xavier welcomed fellow vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s decision to contest the deputy president's post and denied that such a move would destabilise the party. 

Rafizi is set take on long time rival and deputy incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali, though the latter has yet to announce if he will defend the post. 

After admitting that he, himself, has yet to decide his move for the upcoming party polls, Xavier expressed confidence that party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim (picture, above) would comfortably win the presidency.

Anwar is currently the sole candidate to be vying for the top post. According to Xavier further, a win for Anwar would render the post of de facto leader redundant.

“With him taking over the position of party president, the ketua umum (de facto) position will not be there anymore,” Xavier said when asked.

The PKR polls are set to take place in August, while state-level nominations will begin on July 29.