Nik Nazmi a Selangor MB candidate after sultan demands more names, says source

PKR and DAP might insist that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is their only choice as Selangor Menteri Besar but there is a growing belief that newly-elected youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad could take the post after the state ruler decreed that each party within Pakatan Rakyat (PR) propose more than two names for the post.

A PKR source said Nik Nazmi's name surfaced as the third candidate – alongside party president Dr Wan Azizah and deputy president Azmin Ali – before the results of the PKR Youth elections were announced on August 21.

"Nik Nazmi is now the most senior ‎PKR member among the Selangor assemblymen after he won the position recently. So it is very fitting for him to be chosen as the third candidate," a source told The Malaysian Insider.

Nik Nazmi, 32, is the deputy state speaker as well as the Seri Setia assemblyman. He was Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary, before‎ Faekah Husin took over the role.

He clinched the PKR Youth chief position in the party elections, despite unofficial results naming Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari‎ the winner.

PKR and DAP last night said that Dr Wan Azizah remained their sole candidate based on a letter issued by the state ruler that they should nominate only one person in 2013 after the general elections.

There was speculation that PKR deputy president Mohammed Azmin Ali could also be in the running for the job but he has demurred to party wishes.

The Malaysian Insider previously reported that the third candidate ‎for the top post in the state was Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad. But his name was eventually dropped following relentless attacks against him.

Khalid had told a press conference yesterday evening that the Sultan of Selangor had deferred his resignation until a new MB is appointed.

But the Sultan decreed that each party in PR must submit more than two names for his consideration, forcing the coalition back to the drawing board.

PKR and DAP had previously maintained that they wanted on‎ly Dr Wan Azizah to be named as a candidate, although PAS on August 17 had proposed that Azmin Ali also be included in the list.

However, Azmin turned down PAS's proposal as he was bound by his party's decision to nominate only Dr Wan Azizah for the post.

PAS had also reiterated several times that it would not go after the Selangor menteri besar post. It has yet to officially endorse anyone for the job. – August 27, 2014.