Saifuddin, Izzah and Rafizi forms alliance

Outgoing Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution will team up with Nurul Izzah Anwar and Rafizi Ramli for the party’s upcoming elections.

He announced the alliance to the media on Tuesday with PKR vice president Izzah and chief strategist Rafizi by his side, calling the pact as one that aims towards harnessing the collective strength of the PKR, especially in the absence of party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar was tipped to be candidate of the recent controversial Kajang by-election but was sentenced to five years in jail a day before nomination, after being found guilty of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari.

“The party selection should feature a line-up of leadership that is able to harness the strength from within and outside of the party to face the possibility that Anwar might go to jail,” Saifuddin said.

Both Izzah and Rafizi are gunning for PKR's three available vice-president posts.

“The alliance was formed based on our compatibility,” said Rafizi.

“The voters wants an indication that if trust is to be given to PKR, they need to feel comfortable. We made a decision to offer ourselves to continue carrying the agenda of servicing the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin confirmed that will be running for party's deputy presidency in the upcoming polls.

He will be up against incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, PKR vice-president Tian Chua and party members, Datuk K. Ramachandram and Murali Subramaniam.

“Today, I want to announce my final decision to contest for the deputy president post. I will continue my service and contributions to the party alongside my team members through a democratic party election.”

The trio will begin campaigning across the country starting Wednesday until April 25.

Among the locations announced are Jayapura, Permatang Pauh, Bagan Datoh, NY, Pandan, Johor, Malacca, Muar, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Temerloh, Indera Mahkota, Kuching and Miri.

Apart from Izzah and Rafizi, 14 other candidates are vying for vice-president posts including incumbent Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan MP), N Surendran (Padang Serai MP) and former Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.

Tian Chua (Batu MP) will contest for deputy presidency while defending his vice president post.

The contest for the Youth chief (AMK) post will see a three-corner fight between Selangor Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari and former Youth vice-president Mohd Nazree Yunus.

Meanwhile, Wanita wing will see a straight fight for the top post between incumbent Zuraida Kamaruddin and Rodziah Ismail.

A total of 78 candidates will contest the Central Leadership Council (SRC) of PKR and only 20 candidates will be elected.