PKR Congress: Youth members stage walkout to protest new chief

(The Star) – Newly-elected PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad got off to a difficult start to mend ties with the differing factions in the movement.

He admitted to this following a walkout by several of his new committee members just before his maiden speech as the party’s congress.

“I expect this to be a temporary problem. How long can one throw tantrums. It’s just like a lover’s spat which can’t go on and on,” he told reporters.

“We have to move forward and work together,” he said.

He said the people were not interested in taking part in party antics and that they wanted the voices of the younger generation to be heard.

“I accept them all in my team. I hope they will heed the earlier message that the enemy is not within the party but Umno-Barisan Nasional,” he said.

There was dissatisfaction with the results of the youth post where Nik Nazmi narrowly defeated Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari.

On Thursday, PKR election committee chairman Datuk Johari Abdul said Nik Nazmi, who is Seri Setia assemblyman, won 4,509 votes, edging Amirudin’s 4,259 votes.

An unofficial result previously indicated that Amirudin, who is aligned to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, won against Nik Nazmi with merely 40 votes.