PETALING JAYA: There are many young leaders who could succeed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the next PKR chief, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister was asked if PKR No. 2 Rafizi Ramli is the next in line for the top post.
Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic) had posed the question in the Keluar Sekejap podcast on whether Rafizi, who is the deputy president, would take over the reins from Anwar.
He said this is given the hierarchy in the party and the Prime Minister being in his mid-70s.
Nik Nazmi, who is also a PKR vice president, said the party constitution limits the presidency to three-terms and Anwar had just entered his second-term.
“There is still a lot of time for Anwar to be the party president and also the prime minister. On the succession, of course Rafizi is the deputy president, he is 46 years old. Normally, the deputy president is seen as the future (leader),” he said.
Nik Nazmi said party secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is a senior leader himself, has also played an important role in the party for a long time.
“Both have their strengths,” he said.
He added that the vice president line-up also features a young crop of leaders who are predominantly in their 40s.
These include Nik Nazmi himself, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Chang Lih Kang and Nurul Izzah Anwar.
“It is a very young line-up, a strength which I feel a lot of parties do not have in Malaysia. Perhaps, only Muda has a younger leadership,” he said.
“We are proud of this fact. Our only concern is we might block others from rising through the ranks as we have been around for sometime.
“But in terms of succession, I don’t dare to say who. But from the names above, I think there are a lot who can rise through the ranks,” he said.
Rafizi is the fifth deputy president of PKR after beating Saifuddin in the contest for the post in the party polls for the 2022-2025 term.
