PKR names Rafizi as secretary-general

KUALA LUMPUR — The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has named its vice-president, Mr Rafizi Ramli, as the party’s new secretary-general to replace Mr Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in a move seen as allowing the party to consolidate after emerging last month from a long-running political crisis that had exposed bitter divisions between the PKR and its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition alliance.

The Star newspaper had reported Mr Rafizi’s appointment yesterday, saying the move would help the party to consolidate after its deputy president Azmin Ali became Selangor Chief Minister last month, ending months of squabbling within the PR alliance over differences on who should helm Malaysia’s richest state.

The months-long political saga — which had pitted the PKR and the Democratic Action Party (DAP) against its ally, the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) — was brought to an end when Mr Azmin was appointed the state’s Chief Minister by the Sultan of Selangor.

Mr Rafizi confirmed the Star report to the Malay Mail Online yesterday. Changes to the PKR leadership line-up were made at a meeting of its political bureau and central leadership council chaired by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Sunday.

Mr Saifuddin would now be named the co-director of elections, together with the daughter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the party’s vice-president, Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Anwar, who is awaiting a ruling on his appeal against a sodomy conviction his party has said is politically motivated, said the move was also to allow Mr Azmin, who was previously the election director, to concentrate on his role as the Chief Minister.

Mr Rafizi also held the post of the party’s strategic director. The post is now taken over by Mr Sim Tze Tzin, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bayan Baru seat in Penang.

Mr Sim said the changes were made as part of PKR’s preparation for the next generation of leaders to take on more responsibilities.

“With Rafizi as secretary-general and Nurul Izzah as election co-director and me as strategy director, the party is preparing for the second generation to take more responsibilities. We will articulate issues close to people’s heart,” he said.

Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, an assemblyman for Sri Andalas in Selangor, and Mr Darell Leiking, an MP for the Penampang seat in Sabah, have now been appointed party vice-presidents.

Meanwhile, Dr Tan Yew Kew, a former Malaysian Chinese Association central committee member, is now PKR treasurer. Communications director Fahmi Fadzil will remain in his post. AGENCIES