The former MP, Yusmadi Yusof, said there should be a “collaboration among the competent” to avoid a battle that might damage the party.
Yusmadi said contests should be allowed as the party embraced democracy, but an all-out battle may divide the party further.
“So the heavyweights and competent leaders should conspire to collaborate for the sake of preserving goodwill,” said Yusmadi, who was elected MP for Balik Pulau in 2008 on a PKR ticket.
PKR holds its party elections in August and September, with possible contests looming for the party presidency or deputy presidency, involving Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli.
Rafizi, a vice-president, has announced that he would contest the deputy presidency, now held by Azmin Ali.
Azmin has not stated whether he would seek re-election or contest to be party president, which would pit him against his mentor, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Wan Azizah said today that the contests were merely a reflection of democratic principles. She would not comment further but denied suggestions of a rift within the party.
Last night, Rafizi confirmed that he has a slate of eight in his team, among them Nurul Izzah Anwar, who are contesting the four vice-presidents’ posts and leadership of the Wanita and Youth wings.
Azmin’s political secretary Muhammad Hilman Idham has said that the PKR deputy president welcomes Rafizi’s challenge, and also that he would welcome anyone who wanted to “contest the posts of president, deputy, or any other position”.