Rafizi, who is deputy president, has been replaced by Azman Abidin as federal territories PKR leader and Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh Azman as the Johor chief. Azman is the political secretary to Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, while Syed Ibrahim is the Ledang MP.

Vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was relieved of his position as Kelantan and Terengganu PKR chief, with the posts now going to Suparadi Noor and Ahmad Nazri Yusof, respectively.

In Sabah, deputy higher education minister Mustapha Sakmud replaces Sangkar, who was recently urged to step down by 15 of 26 division chiefs. He had rejected the demand, and Anwar later said he would intervene in the matter.

Sangkar has now been appointed to the central leadership council, along with former Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail and Roslan Hussin, listed in the statement as a training director.

Deputy domestic trade and cost of living minister Fuziah Salleh takes over from party vice-president Amirudin Shari as Pahang PKR chief, though Amirudin will continue to lead the Selangor chapter.

There were no changes to the other state leaderships.

In a statement, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said the changes were decided by the party’s central leadership council.

He added that the top leadership also discussed the looming by-election for the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang following the death of Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS on Friday.