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PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Secretary-General Fuziah Salleh will officiate the 2025 joint congress of the party’s youth and women’s wings (AMK and Wanita), ending speculation over who would preside over the event typically led by the deputy president.
The confirmation comes after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who holds the deputy presidency, announced he would not officiate the congress scheduled for 22 May. Fuziah clarified that she had been entrusted with the task as other senior leaders are preoccupied with the party’s internal elections.
Speaking to Berita Harian, Fuziah stated, “The responsibility of officiating the AMK and Wanita congress was given to me as top leaders are involved in the Central Leadership Council (MPP) elections.”
Traditionally, the congress is officiated by the deputy president, but Rafizi explained his decision stemmed from his commitment to launching the Sabah state election machinery, a key task under his role as PKR’s Director of Elections.
“Indeed, the tradition is for the deputy president to officiate the AMK and women’s congresses. But within the party’s hierarchy and etiquette, launching an election campaign as critical as Sabah’s is equally part of that responsibility,” Rafizi said.
He expressed concern that internal party norms had been disregarded, pointing to the sudden announcement of Nurul Izzah Anwar and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari launching the Sabah campaign without prior discussion in the Political Bureau or leadership council.
“There are proper channels and etiquette. We had announced the Hiruk tour in Sabah for Saturday at 2.30 pm. Suddenly, a poster is out saying Izzah and Amir will launch the campaign at the same time. No discussions took place beforehand,” he said.
“If others want to take up the responsibility of the deputy president and election director, I’ve no objection. But why put grassroots and local leaders in a difficult position? Why not follow party decorum?”
While Rafizi will not be officiating the party’s youth and women’s congress, he will be in Johor Bahru on 20 May for the final leg of his Jelajah Hiruk tour, before participating in the party’s national elections and main congress from 23 to 24 May. - May 21, 2025