NATURAL Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad lost the Setiawangsa PKR division chief post to director-actor Datuk Afdlin Shauki.
Nik Nazmi, who is also a PKR vice-president and Setiawangsa MP, registered 563 votes while Afdlin, who joined PKR in 2021, got 631 votes in the Federal Territories division polls on Saturday (April 19).
In 2022, Afdlin lost the contest for the same post to Nik Nazmi.
A total of 1,207 ballots were issued, despite 1,640 members being eligible to vote.
The result marks a significant upset for Nik Nazmi, who is also a PKR vice-president.
He also has held the Setiawangsa parliamentary seat since 2018.
Nik Nazmi to file appeal
Nik Nazmi later said he will file an appeal after failing to defend his Setiawangsa division chief post.
He said he will use the party’s proper channels to raise several “issues” that surfaced during the divisional election.
“This is part of our commitment to ensuring that the party election is carried out with integrity and fairness,” he said in a statement.
In Lembah Pantai, Communications Minister and PKR information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil won unopposed while in a five-cornered fight in Bukit Bintang, K. Saraswathy who is also Deputy National Unity Minister and PKR vice-president, was defeated by Anwar Pawan Chik.
Batu MP P. Prabakaran, who recently denied allegations of distributing cash to members ahead of the division polls, lost the Batu PKR chief post to lawyer Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin won unopposed in Bandar Tun Razak while Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan lost the contest for the Wangsa Maju division chief post to its incumbent Lai Cheng Heng.
In Permatang Pauh, Nurul Izzah Anwar won unopposed while Education Minister and Wanita PKR chief Fadlina Sidek emerged as the Nibong Tebal division chief after beating two challengers - Muttaqeen Mustafa and Muhammad Navalan Abdullah.
Fadhlina received 677 votes while Muttaqeen and Navalan got 335 and 72 votes, respectively.
Former Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister and Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik was defeated by former Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail for the Balik Pulau division chief post.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin won the Bayan Baru division chief post after securing a landslide victory of 1,035 votes against his opponent Cheah Peng Guan who received 425 votes. - April 19, 2025
