KUALA LUMPUR – Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik has been elected as one of the 20 new PKR central leadership council (MPP) members after receiving the most votes in a poll that saw several high-profile names missing out.
The former education minister, who only joined the party last November, garnered 1,091 votes, followed by outgoing youth chief Akmal Nasir, who managed to obtain 956 votes.
Datuk Romli Ishak, who is Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s aide, emerged third in the election, with 878 votes.
Actor-producer Datuk Hans Isaac, who missed out on the Ampang division chief post in the recently concluded PKR polls, also managed to be in the top 20, while fellow celebrity Datuk Afdlin Shauki failed to make the list.
Among other big names who did not make the cut include Melaka PKR chief Datuk Abdul Halim Bachik, Sg Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, Sg Buloh lawmaker Sivarasa Rasiah, Tangga Batu MP Rusnah Aluai, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, and Hulu Selangor assemblyman June Leow.
Only four women managed to be elected into the party’s top decision-making body.
They are Merbok MP Nor Azrina Surip, former senator Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail, outgoing Lembah Pantai Wanita chief Raiyan Abdul Rahim, and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong.
Most of the line-up for the central leadership committee are known Rafizi Ramli allies.
A total of 73 candidates had vied for positions in the MPP, although four individuals have withdrawn their candidacy since, while one was disqualified.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was confirmed by the party’s election committee deputy chairman Saiful Izham Ramli as the party president for the 2022-2025 term, after winning the seat by uncontested.
Saiful also officially announced Rafizi as the new deputy president, while the four elected vice-president posts will be helmed by Aminuddin, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and Chang Lih Kang. – The Vibes, July 17, 2022
