Selangor MB confirms defending PKR veep post

Summary

• Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari announces he will defend his PKR vice-president post and not run for the No 2 position.

• He says anyone can offer themselves to contest, but urges candidates to maintain boundaries, manners, and language.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has confirmed that he will not contest for the deputy president’s post at the PKR polls in May.

State media Selangorkini reported that Amirudin told a Selangor PKR gathering in Shah Alam last night that he will defend his current vice-president post instead.

“Whoever wants to contest, go ahead. Whoever wants to offer themselves, please do so.

“But maintain boundaries, manners, and language this Ramadan,” he said, in launching the annual general meetings for Selangor PKR’s branches, Youth, and Women’s wings.

The deputy presidency is the number two post in the party, currently held by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Amirudin added that keeping the party’s Selangor members united is a priority to ensure PKR president Anwar Ibrahim receives undivided support.

“I firmly believe that we must continue to strengthen our resolve to ensure Selangor remains solid.

“If Selangor can prove that we are strong and united, then, God willing, other states will also be strong and united. The prime minister (Anwar) stands with 100 percent support without any division,” said the Gombak MP and Sungai Tua assemblyperson.

He also stressed that PKR must remain united to ensure Anwar remains prime minister after the 16th general election.

“So, that’s enough - it’s clear, God willing, with that in mind, I am confident that the prime minister must continue to receive support from Rafizi as deputy president, and I will continue to stand as the vice-president.

”Because we need to be a strong and united voice to move forward. Anwar for a second term as prime minister,” he said.

Rafizi and PKR Women’s chief Fadhlina Sidek were reportedly present at the event.

Earlier yesterday, Amirudin claimed there were suggestions for him to run for the party’s deputy presidency, but he would only decide on the matter after meeting with Anwar.

Anwar, who will enter his third and final term as party president, previously said he has left it to the party to decide if his and his deputy’s positions will be open for contest in the May party polls.

It was previously reported that PKR International Bureau chairperson Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, who also serves as Anwar’s senior political secretary, revealed that the suggestion to keep the positions uncontested stems from internal discussions.

The election for the party’s central leadership council, the central women’s leadership council, and the central youth leadership council will be held on May 24.

The polls for positions at the branch level are scheduled from April 11 to 20.

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