Azmin lacks leadership qualities, says Khalid
(MM) – Azmin Ali has yet to show the kind of leadership skills needed to lead PKR in the event Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim leaves politics, according to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
Khalid, whose bitter rivalry with the PKR deputy president is well known, said that a “true leader” must have integrity and command a high level of trust among party members.
When asked whether Azmin had these qualities and the ability to lead the party, Khalid replied with a curt “not yet.”
“All leaders need to be more than what they are now… if you get to that level then people will look upon you as a leader to follow,” he told The Malay Mail Online in an exclusive interview.
Khalid said PKR should instead develop a proper succession plan for a future beyond Anwar, adding that the party has younger, capable candidates who could be groomed to take over the top leadership.
“We should develop a succession plan for our party to be in the forefront of the Malaysian political arena.
“PKR has the quality and quantity, we have not dried up on younger leadership,” Khalid added, naming PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar, party strategist Rafizi Ramli and Machang Bubuk state assemblyman Lee Khai Loon as potential leaders.
PKR has to train its leaders to be guided by principle, he said.
“We are a reform party. We have to make sure our strategy and commitment will not be questioned.
“Trust is not just saying it, it has to be earned,” Khalid added.
All top PKR posts are up for grabs in internal party polls to be held in April and May.
The party recently amended its election rules to ensure clean and healthy polls. Under the new rules, members are allowed to nominate themselves instead of relying on divisions to name candidates. The duration of the voting process has also been shortened.
Nomination for all top posts is scheduled for March 29 while nominations for divisional posts start on April 4 and end on April 13.
Voting starts on April 25 and ends on May 11 while results are due on on May 12 or May 13.
The last PKR election in 2010 was fraught with allegations of nepotism and irregularity, which saw the exit of several leaders, including Datuk Zaid Ibrahim ― who was responsible for crafting the Pakatan Rakyat coalition framework ― from the party.
