“Yes I will be contesting the deputy president’s position,” he said.
So far, he is the only one to confirm going for the deputy president’s post as incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali has yet to state which post he will be contesting.
Azmin, who is currently the economic affairs minister, remains coy on whether he would defend his post.
Meanwhile, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said he supported Rafizi’s bid to be the party’s number two.
“I give my 100% support to him,” he said.
He said it was time for Rafizi to strengthen PKR’s “reformasi” spirit.
PKR elections are held once every three years. Nominations open at the end of this month, with polling taking place in August. PKR members can contest all posts. A few vice-presidents, however, are appointed.
On July 18, Azmin had said he was considering whether to defend his post as deputy president or to go for the top post. “I will make a decision on that at some point,” Azmin had told reporters in Parliament recently.
The odds are currently 60% in favour of Azmin, who is the minister of economic affairs, and 40% for Rafizi, who runs the Invoke Malaysia reform group, a party insider had said.
PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has announced he is contesting the president’s post.