Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Azmin Ali is far ahead of the pack in the race for the party's deputy president post, receiving nine nominations to incumbent Dr Syed Husin Ali's four.

Ezam Mohd Nor, who announced his shock resignation from all party posts last month, received one nomination from the Merbok division. Information chief Tian Chua also received one nomination, from the Tanjung division.

Meanwhile, party advisor Anwar Ibrahim received 10 nominations, while his wife, party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail received four.

Former deputy president Abdul Rahman Othman received one nomination, also from the Merbok division.

With a month left in the run-up to the party's national congress, 15 of 167 divisions nationwide have completed their compulsory annual meetings. The concluded meetings were held between Feb 13-25. Each candidate is required at least two nominations to contest.

Many for veep posts

The information is published in the early March edition of the party organ bi-monthly, Suara Keadilan .

The vice-president's post also saw heavy contestation, with a total of 12 names nominated for three elected positions. PKR has three elected vice-presidents, Azmin Ali, R Sivarasa and Dr Lee Boon Chye. The other two appointed vice-presidents are Mustapa Kamil Ayub and Saidatul Tun Said.

Lee received 15 nominations, Mustapa six, Sivarasa six and Azmin Ali three. Businessman and Anwar's close associate S Nallakarupan received four nominations while Ezam received three nominations.

Women's wing chief Fuziah Salleh received three nominations. Penang chairperson Zahrain Hashim, Sabah deputy chairperson Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, ex-Umno Penang youth chief Dr Rahim Ghouse, supreme council member Dr Mansor Othman and deputy secretary-general Dr Xavier Jayakumar each received one nomination.

The youth chief post, vacated last February by Ezam, saw nine nominations for deputy youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and two nominations for Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

Women's wing chief incumbent Fuziah Salleh received five nominations. Party members Zainol Jaafar received two nominations wile Zuraidah Kamaruddin received one nomination.

Ezam's decision final

One of the anticipated contenders for the deputy president's post, Ezam, 40, appears to have thrown in the towel before the fight begins.

The party's young gun, whose political highlights include a two-year (Internal Security Act) ISA stint, said yesterday he would reject nominations for party posts and that his decision is final.

"I will continue to support PKR, particularly in fighting corruption," he told malaysiakini.

He was responding to a formal appeal by PKR Selangor chairperson and party treasurer Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, to reconsider his resignation.

In a surprise move last month, Ezam resigned from all party positions Selangor deputy chairperson and Shah Alam division chief to focus on anti-corruption watch group, Gerak, which he formed. He has denied to the media that his resignation from party posts was due to a fall-out with Azmin.

"He will not contest for the deputy presidency. In fact, he will not accept any post," said close associate PKR youth secretary general SD Johari Md Yassin when contacted yesterday.

"He has already made his point. He does not want any positions. Even if there is overwhelming nominations, [the posts] would be turned down," he added.