Sivarasa was previously a Selangor PKR vice-chairman, alongside Selangor executive councillor Borhan Aman Shah, ex-Kajang assemblyman Hee Loy Sian and Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail.

He has since been replaced by Sentosa assemblyman RG Gunaraj.

Sivarasa, a former deputy rural development minister, remains a member of the state leadership as an ex-officio member. He still heads the party’s legal bureau and Sungai Buloh division.

It is understood that ex-officio members have no voting power in the state leadership.

A former three-term MP, he was dropped at the last minute from defending his Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat during last year’s general election (GE15) and PKR fielded R Ramanan instead.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said Sivarasa’s health issues were the main reason for not fielding him as a candidate. Sivarasa confirmed having issues with his vocal cords but said he insisted on contesting in GE15.

Nonetheless, he said he fully accepted Anwar’s decision as the president of the party.

Ramanan went on to win the seat by defeating his closest contender, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, by 2,693 votes. On Tuesday, he was appointed deputy entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister.

Meanwhile, Rodziah is also no longer part of the main Selangor PKR leadership, with former Bukit Melawati assemblyman Juwairiya Zulkilfi taking over the state vice-chief’s post.

Juwairiya was formerly a political secretary to Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari, who also leads PKR’s state chapter.