'Let the party decide,' says Anwar on no-contest proposal for PKR's top 2

Summary

• PKR president Anwar Ibrahim says he will not interfere in upcoming May party polls when asked to comment on the no-contest proposal for the party’s top two posts.

• Anwar stresses that PKR is a democracy and anyone is free to contest or not contest any position.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has left it to the party to decide whether his position and the deputy - now held by Rafizi Ramli - will be contested in the upcoming May party polls.

“Let them decide… I will not interfere. It is a democracy… to contest, to not contest, let the party decide,” the prime minister told reporters in Kuala Selangor.

Anwar said this when asked to comment on calls for the PKR’s top two positions to remain uncontested so he could resume leading in his third and final term as president as stated under the party constitution.

Berita Harian reported that Anwar earlier attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Harmoni Madani Bestari Jaya People’s Residential Project, together with Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

The suggestion to keep the positions uncontested stems from internal discussions, according to PKR International Bureau chairperson Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, who also serves as Anwar’s senior political secretary.

“The view (from discussions) is to ensure internal stability within the party and to facilitate service to the people, given that the next general election is only about two years away,” Shamsul was reported as saying on Feb 1.

On Jan 26, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh announced that the party polls for the central leadership council, Women’s central leadership council, and PKR Youth central leadership council for the 2025-2028 term would take place on May 24.

Unlike previous PKR polls since 2010, the party will not open up voting for the top six central posts - president, deputy president, and four vice-presidents - to all members.

Instead, a delegate system has been reintroduced.

PKR's top two posts may be left uncontested - Shamsul

COMMENT | No contest talks: Why is PKR aping Umno?

Reformasi party should not curtail democracy, says ex-PKR Youth vice-chief

No contest for top PKR spots prevents prep for post-Anwar era, pundits say

COMMENT | Is PKR morphing into another Umno?