In a video of Anwar delivering a speech at Selangor PKR’s annual general meeting yesterday, he said he has entrusted Rafizi, who is the economy minister, to be his deputy, and that he should be given room to carry out his duties and responsibilities.

“Let Rafizi be given an easy path,” said Anwar, who is the prime minister.

Last month, Anwar’s political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, said discussions were under way to leave the top two posts uncontested at the party elections scheduled for May.

Asked if the proposed no-contest rule for the posts might violate the party’s democratic principles, he said negotiations were part of democracy.

Shamsul also said PKR was focussing on a more important agenda – serving the people as part of the ruling government and preparing for the next general election

Anwar previously said he would leave it up to the party to decide on whether the two top positions should be contested.

He stressed that he did not want to interfere in the matter and respected the democratic process within PKR.

The party’s branch-level elections are scheduled from April 11 to 20, while the elections for the central leadership will be held on May 24.

The current office-bearers have been serving in their positions since May 29, 2022.