Amid claims of factions jostling for positions in the upcoming PKR party election, several leaders who filed their nominations today made it a point to declare their neutrality.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil pointed out that the expected faceoff between teams aligned to deputy president hopeful Rafizi Ramli and incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali is part of the normal democratic process.

But at the same time, Fahmi – who is running for a seat on the party’s central leadership council – said he has not chosen to be part of either.

"Maybe there is a benefit for him, but I have no team," he said when asked to comment on Rafizi's move to unveil a full team of leaders backing his bid for the post of deputy president.

"I am not in any camp. If there is at all any such thing, I am in camp Anwar," he said, and added quickly, "But Anwar has no camp."

"I don't even like to go camping," Fahmi quipped.

‘A peace cry’

Speaking from a rostrum set up outside the party's headquarters, Fahmi reiterated his stand that party polls should be celebrated, and that PKR should set an example of how a campaign should be carried out.

"I was asked if I have a war cry...I don't have a war cry, I have a peace cry."

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Earlier, former Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff was also spotted among the leaders at the headquarters.

"I am standing on my own two feet, carrying out the mission of 'muafakat generasi Reformasi' (reuniting the Reformasi generation)," he told Malaysiakini when met later.

Yusmadi said this when asked whether he is aligned to any camp in his bid for a central leadership council position.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who also submitted his nominations for a central leadership council post, only smiled and said, "I am in the president's camp."

"Will there be two contenders for the president's post?" he asked in retrun when quizzed about the possibility of another candidate challenging de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim for the party’s top post.

Aside from the three leaders, Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Najwan Halimi announced yesterday that he is contesting for youth chief, with Melaka PKR deputy youth chief Naqiuddin Nazrin as his deputy.

They are running against the duo Akmal Nasir and Raymond Ahuar, part of Rafizi's team, as well as Afif Bahardin and Hilman Idham, believed to be aligned to Azmin.

Prior to nominations today, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had repeatedly denied the existence of "camps" within the party.

The PKR election will commence on Aug 24, and take place over nine weeks. Results are expected to be announced in November.