KUALA LUMPUR: With the PKR party elections entering its final week, the faction led by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali is comfortably in the lead, having secured the most votes to fill key positions in the party’s Central Leadership Council.
The elections, which began on Sept 22, saw almost all contestants from the PKR deputy president incumbent’s camp in healthy leads for the positions they are contesting.
Out of 13 states which had completed polling, Mohamed Azmin is leading his challenger for the deputy presidency, Rafizi Ramli, with a 3,202-vote majority after securing 59,594 votes (51.4 per cent) compared to Rafizi who has 56,392 votes (48.6 per cent).
Three of Azmin’s allies are also in prime position to secure the four available vice-president posts. They are Ampang member of parliament Zuraida Kamaruddin (52,226 votes), followed by Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar (47,566 votes) and former Batu MP Tian Chua with 42,068 votes.
However, the sole VP candidate who isn’t from Azmin’s camp - Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar - is by far the runaway leader, leaving her 12 challengers in her wake after securing 67,050 votes.
The Youth chief post is currently in Azmin’s camp’s favour, with Seberang Jaya state assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin having collected 14,000 votes for now. Close behind are Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (13,169 votes) and Kota Anggerik assemblyman Mohd Najwan Halimi (2,982 votes).
Things are also looking rosy for Azmin on the Deputy Youth Chief front. Azmin’s political secretary, Hilman Idham, is currently in the lead for the post with a 8,411 vote-majority after garnering 16,951 votes compared to Rafizi’s ally, Raymond Ahuar, who has 8,440 votes.
For the Wanita PKR chief post, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohd Talha is leading with 24,179 votes ahead of Rafizi’s ally Fuziah Salleh, who has 19,662 votes. The fight for the wing’s deputy post sees Azmin’s ally Daroyah Alwi enjoying a healthy lead with 23,599 votes compared to her challenger Rodziah Ismail (18,006 votes).
Azmin’s supremacy is also evident in the battle to fill the 20 slots for the party’s Central Leadership Council.
Azmin’s allies, including Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari; Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa and Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon, are currently in the lead for 15 out of the 20 seats up for grabs.
States which have concluded polling results are Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory. Those which have not are Selangor, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Kedah, Perak and Sabah.
The PKR elections in Sarawak will begin on Saturday involving 29 branches, with Julau and Lubok Antu touted as the branches to watch.