G Manivanan, political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for one of the four vice-presidents’ post in PKR as the party gears up for its central-level elections later this month.
The former Kapar MP, who served from 2013 to 2018, registered just before nominations closed at 11.59pm yesterday.
The lawyer-turned-politician’s entry into the race follows his recent victory in the party’s Jempol division polls.
His candidacy adds another layer to what is already looking to be a crowded and competitive contest for the post of vice-president.
The incumbents, Selangor menteri besar and state PKR chairman Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar and state PKR chairman Aminuddin Harun, science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang, and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, will all be defending their posts.
The other party leaders who are vying for the vice-presidency are Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, deputy entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister R Ramanan, Segamat MP R Yuneswaran, party deputy secretary-general Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan, senator Abun Sui Anyit, former Selangor exco member Hee Loy Sian and former vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.
Meanwhile, the contest for the deputy president’s post is a two-horse race between the incumbent, economy minister Rafizi Ramli, and Nurul Izzah Anwar, the prime minister’s daughter, a move that could test loyalties within the party.
This year’s party polls on May 23 is the first PKR leadership contest since Anwar became prime minister in November 2022.
This will also be the final PKR presidency term for Anwar, 77, because the party’s constitution caps the tenure of its president at two consecutive terms.
PKR’s last internal elections in 2022 were marred by division and a low voter turnout, particularly during the contest between home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Rafizi.
