‘Rafizi, Nurul Izzah’s appointments to secure Anwar’s grip on party’

(The Rakyat Post) – In a seemingly hush-hush move by PKR yesterday, several party leaders were appointed to key positions, including the surprise appointment of Pandan lawmaker Rafizi Ramli as the party’s new secretary-general.

According to a source close to the party leadership circles, following a closed-door political bureau meeting yesterday, the appointments were finally sealed after several delays due to the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis as well as PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s upcoming Sodomy 2 case decision.

The party had initially planned to announce a new line-up on Oct 4, but was scrapped at the last minute.

It was learnt that PKR vice-president Rafizi had been appointed as the party’s new secretary-general, replacing incumbent Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The appointment was a big surprise given that Saifuddin was a favourite to retain the post following his failed bid to wrest the party’s deputy president post from incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar had been given the additional post of PKR central elections director replacing Datuk Johari Abdul who had overseen the recently held party elections.

“The appointments of Rafizi and Nurul Izzah were made to secure Anwar’s grip on the party should he be found guilty and sentenced to prison for the case,” the source said.

The source added that the fates of Saifuddin and Johari had yet to be determined.

According to another source who confirmed the matter, new faces were expected to be filled for the posts of party communications director and strategic director after its current holders, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Rafizi, had been elected PKR Youth chief and vice-president respectively.

In addition to the PKR elections which elected four-vice presidents, the sourced who refused to be named, said that Seri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jayakumar as well as Penampang Member of Parliament Darell Leiking had been appointed vice-presidents by president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Leiking was previously the deputy secretary-general, while Jayakumar was the central committee member.

It was learnt that an East Malaysian must be allotted one vice-president’s post in accordance to party consensus.

PKR’s communication’s director Fahmi Fadzil meanwhile had been appointed PKR Youth vice chief.