PKR polls: Ministers, deputies face challengers for party posts

Summary

• The upcoming PKR party election is set to see ministers and deputy ministers face multiple challenges at the divisional level.

• The election to be held from April 11 to April 20 will also see several aides to Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim vying for division chief positions.

• PKR will release the full candidate list on March 31, three days later than the initial schedule.

The divisional level contest in the upcoming PKR election is expected to feature challenges involving ministers, as well as federal and state lawmakers.

This includes aides to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as well as rising politicians and party activists.

PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said the final list, initially scheduled for release yesterday, according to the party election website, was determined after the objection and appeal process is completed between March 20 and  25.

The full list has yet to be revealed as of press time.

Challengers

As for the candidates, Malaysiakini learnt that Anwar’s senior political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, is expected to once again challenge incumbent Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Rafee Ibrahim, who is also Malacca PKR chief.

Anwar’s political secretary, Chan Ming Kai is expected to face a three-cornered contest for the Alor Setar division chief post, while another political secretary, Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, has won the Indera Mahkota division chief post uncontested.

The ministers expected to face challengers are Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa).

Fadhlina is being challenged for the Nibong Tebal division chief post. In addition, Fadhlina is also being challenged by Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail for the PKR Women’s chief post.

In Setiawangsa, Nik Nazmi is expected to once again face director-cum-actor Afdlin Shauki Aksan, who in the 2022 party claimed alleged discrepancies had led to his loss.

Iit is understood that Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang has again won his Tanjong Malim division chief post uncontested.

As for deputy ministers, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir is expected to defend his division chief post against challenger Taufiq Ismail, the state PKR Youth chief. 

Previously, Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R Ramanan announced that he had won the Sungai Buloh division chief post uncontested.

Down south

In Johor, Malaysiakini learnt that the Tebrau division is expected to see the incumbent chief, Segamat MP R Yuneswaran, face a three-way contest against Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah, who leads the Pulai division, and Prakash Maniam. 

In Negeri Sembilan, Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, who in the 2022 PKR election defeated former Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi for the Port Dickson division chief post, is expected to face another challenge from him.

In Selangor, Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, who leads the Shah Alam PKR division, is expected to face a challenge from Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Najwan Halimi and another contender, Noryzal Zainal Abidin.

The Ampang PKR division looks set for a three-cornered contest involving two assemblypersons - incumbent chief Lembah Jaya assemblyperson Syed Ahmad Abdul Rahman Alhadad and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Kamri Kamaruddin - and economist Azrul Azwa Ahmad Tajudin.

In the Federal Territories, Batu MP P Prabakaran, who is also Batu PKR chief, is facing a challenge from lawyer-activist Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, while Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan is challenging incumbent Wangsa Maju PKR chief Lai Chen Heng and a third contender, Abdullah Talib.

Up north

Moving up north, Malaysiakini learnt that incumbent PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also Penang PKR chief, has defended her Permatang Pauh division chief post uncontested. Nurul Izzah is also in the running to defend her vice-president’s post.

Similarly, in Kedah, Sungai Petani MP Dr Taufiq Johari defended his Sungai Petani division chief post uncontested. 

Lastly, in Perlis, Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad, who is Perlis PKR chief, is set to defend his Kangar division chief post against state PKR deputy chief and Indera Kayangan assemblyperson Gan Ay Ling.

Following an official announcement, all divisional-level candidates will start their campaigns until 11.59pm on April 10.

In an official notice, PKR today announced that the party’s election committee, led by Dr Zaliha Mustafa, is still in the process of resolving all complaints and matters related to the candidates’ list.

“Therefore, the date to announce the official candidates’ list at the division level has been moved to March 31,” according to the notice.

PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh previously said that elections for division-level positions, including the women’s and youth wings, would be held from April 11 to 20.

This will be followed by elections for the central leadership council and women’s and youth wings at the central level on May 24.

PKR election candidates list to be finalised today

Sathia latest candidate eyeing PKR veep post

Ramanan to contest PKR veep post

S'gor PKR Youth chief to gun for wing's national No 2 post in party polls

Chang to defend PKR vice-president post at party polls

Rafizi to defend PKR No 2 post