Balik Pulau MP Bakhtiar Wan Chik tipped to head Penang PKR
Amid a running joke that Penang PKR is like a "headless chicken" since the abrupt resignation Nurul Izzah Anwar, Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Bakhtiar Wan Chik has been tipped to become the new state chief.
According to a party source, Bakthiar has been shortlisted for the vacant post, along with Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Halim Hussain.
"Looking at the trend, Bakhtiar would most likely be appointed as the state chief...
The running joke since Nurul Izzah quit her post is that the state chapter is like a 'headless chicken'.
Amid a running joke that Penang PKR is like a "headless chicken" since the abrupt resignation Nurul Izzah Anwar, Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Bakhtiar Wan Chik has been tipped to become the new state chief.
According to a party source, Bakthiar has been shortlisted for the vacant post, along with Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Halim Hussain.
"Looking at the trend, Bakhtiar would most likely be appointed as the state chief due to his current status as deputy minister and the MP who had recaptured the much sought after Balik Pulau seat from BN," the source told Malaysiakini.
A former Penang local councillor, Bakhtiar replaced PKR's Yusmadi Yusoff as the candidate for Balik Pulau in the 2013 and 2018 general elections.
Yusmadi, now a senator appointed by the Penang government, was dropped as the Balik Pulau candidate in 2013. Bakhtiar contested for the seat in that election, but lost to BN's Hilmi Yahya.
Bakhtiar managed to seize the constituency back from Umno in last year's general election and was subsequently appointed a deputy minister.
'Crucial state'
However, Penang PKR leaders are uncertain when the new state chief will officially be announced.
Without a state chief, the chapter is unable to form a state committee to carry out its duties and functions.
At least one leader has called for the party leadership to name its Penang chief soon, saying this is a "crucial state."
State exco Dr Afif Bahardin (photo) said the state needed input from the party's leadership in Penang, and that any development state would be affected by the delay.
"This is our duty and responsibility. Whoever is the state chief has to administer the party properly.
"Under the previous leadership, we managed to fulfil our duty to capture all seats for PKR in the 14th general election, both the state assembly and parliamentary seats," Afif said, referring to former state chief and Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman.
"Not many states could achieve that.
"It is not easy to keep up with his (Mansor's) track record and whoever is appointed has to step up to the game," he added.
On Dec 16, Nurul Izzah – the daughter of party president Anwar Ibrahim – was announced as the Penang PKR chief.
She resigned the following day, however, saying: "There are beliefs and ideals I hold dear and I feel that I can be most true to them by taking this course of action I am now announcing."
Nurul Izzah also stepped down from her post of party vice-president, and said that she would not serve the government in any capacity.
