Azmin (at rostrum) announces his candidacy for the PKR deputy presidency during a press conference today.
PKR vice-president Azmin Ali officially announced his decision today to contest the party’s deputy presidency in its upcoming polls, setting the stage for a likely battle with Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for eventual control of PKR.
The Gombak MP also said that he would back Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the party president, with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto leader.
Azmin indicated that he fulfilled the criteria set by outgoing deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, which included having “high moral values.”
Syed Husin had announced on Tuesday that he would not seek re-election.
“After taking into account the views of senior leaders and party members and following direct discussion with Dr Syed Husin Ali, I, in all humility, wish to offer myself for the position,” said Azmin in an announcement in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, purportedly a stronghold of likely challenger, Zaid.
Azmin also thanked Syed Husin for his contributions to the party and in upholding justice and human rights.
“Dr Syed Husin Ali has been consistent in the struggle. His determination will continue to be the source of inspiration for all party members,” said Azmin.
“(He) has outlined the qualities that must be possessed by party leaders which include loyalty to the struggle; respect [for] party discipline; [consistency] in fighting corruption; and [subscription] to high moral values, which must be accepted by all party members,” he added.
The Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, Anwar’s aide when the latter was in the government, has received the support of 20 PKR MPs and the majority of state lawmakers in Negri Sembilan and Selangor.
PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin, who is expected to announce his decision to contest one of the four vice-presidents’ posts today, has also backed Azmin to be PKR’s No 2.
While Zaid, also a PKR supreme council member, has been touted as Azmin’s most likely competition for the post, the former has not received any endorsement from any senior party leader. He is, however, said to be popular among Sabah and Sarawak PKR members as well as the non-Malay members in the mainland.
The former de facto law minister has also been pushing Anwar to contest the party presidency in order to legitimise his position as PKR leader.
Anwar had said that he would decline nominations for any party position.
Nominations for national posts and divisional meetings begin this weekend.
The party’s 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings; one for the annual general meeting and election of divisional leaders, and a second meeting to vote for national leaders.
The divisions will vote for national leaders on weekends, from October 29 to November 21.
comments
What a foolish and selfish decision! While division leaders may be in favour of Azmin, the majority of grass roots prefer Zaid...a thinking man who is first Malaysian and then Malay. You know Azmin, this contest just might be what the BN wants...an election that rips the party apart.. UMNO '87 elections come to mind. So be it. Be eternally remembered as the man who destroyed a promising party and opposition. Que Sera sera.
The wayang of Umno,Perkasa and Utusan is at its height....
Fight a clean battle because if PKR is broken into pieces during this party election. A SNAP GENERAL ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE....my prediction.
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