Khalid’s dream as PKR No. 2 is over

(The Star) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s dream to clinch the deputy presidency in PKR and strengthen his position as mentri besar looks set to be crushed by arch-rival Azmin Ali, who appears to be already approaching victory.

In the latest official results released on Tuesday, Azmin edges Khalid by more than 3,400 votes although the tally from three divisions — Kelana Jaya, Puchong and Pensiangan — have yet to be accounted for.

PKR election committee chairman Datuk Johari Abdul told reporters that both Kelana Jaya and Puchong had yet to go for fresh polls while the results from Pensiangan were yet to be endorsed by the party.

He said these results were also not final as the party was still hearing complaints regarding the election.

“Any candidate could be disqualified if they breach party rules,” he said.

Azmin has garnered slightly more than 21,000 votes while Khalid has so far obtained about 17,600 votes, putting to rest claims by the beleaguered Selangor mentri besar’s camp that he was leading the race over the past week.

The third contender, outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, was left further behind with about 9,900 votes.

Observers see Khalid, who recently lost the Kuala Selangor division chief’s post, to be in a vulnerable position as the mentri besar.

They said Khalid’s grassroots support could be further eroded without party positions, and his detractors might pile the pressure on him to give up the mentri besar’s post.

The “Azmin factor” seemed to have influenced the Youth and Women wings, as both candidates from his camp were leading the race. Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari is leading the Youth race in a neck-and-neck race with Sri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Third contender Mohd Nazree Yunus, who is aligned to Khalid, trails behind them.

Incumbent Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin is leading in the straight fight for the top women’s post against Batu Tiga assemblyman Rodziah Ismail.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar maintained her position at the top of the vice-president race, followed by Batu MP Tian Chua and Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.

The full results are expected to be released during the PKR congress from Aug 22 to Aug 24 in Shah Alam.