According to a PKR source, an East Malaysian leader is likely to be named for one of the slots, with the appointment drawing particular attention especially ahead of the Sabah state election.

“The meeting will be held this Saturday. The party will likely appoint the three vice-presidents,” the source told FMT.

Senator Abun Sui Anyit is said to be a contender among the potential appointees from Sarawak. However, his recent loss in the race for one of the four elected vice-president posts may hamper his chances.

“There’s a view that it might be unfair to appoint him since he did not win in the central leadership elections,” said the source.

Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud, the deputy higher education minister, is also believed to be a frontrunner for the position.

PKR traditionally maintains a balance of regional representation in its leadership, and Saturday’s meeting is expected to reflect the party’s efforts to strengthen its presence in East Malaysia ahead of state elections in both Sabah and Sarawak.

Sabah must hold its state election by the end of year, while Sarawak’s is due by April 2027.

PKR’s elections last month saw Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari, Sungai Buloh MP R Ramanan, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun, and federal minister Chang Lih Kang elected as vice-presidents for the 2025-2028 term.

Amirudin and Ramanan – both aligned with newly elected deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar – secured the highest and second-highest number of votes respectively, followed by Aminuddin and Chang, who were in Rafizi Ramli’s corner.

The three appointed PKR vice-presidents who served from 2022 to 2025 were Nurul Izzah, senator K Saraswathy, and former Putatan MP Awang Husaini Sahari.