PKR appoints Lee Boon Chye as interim Perak chief
PKR has appointed Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye as its interim Perak state chief until party polls are held in two months' time.
Lee (above) will replace Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak who is moving to Selangor in a bid to challenge Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari for the party's Gombak division leadership.
PKR will elect office bearers for the 2022-2025 term during its upcoming national congress on June 10-12.
State leadership posts, however, are by appointment.
Anwar announced the decision to appoint Lee when met by the media after a Perak PKR meeting today.
Earlier, a source told Malaysiakini that Farhash agreed to be replaced.
“Top leadership met with Farhash two days ago.
“As a result of the meeting, both agreed to appoint an interim chairperson to replace Farhash until the party election in April,” the source said.
The source declined to reveal why there was a need for such an arrangement.
Farhash, a former political secretary to Anwar, has held the post since 2019.
Prior to Lee's appointment, the two top contenders for the post were Teluk Intan division chief Muzaffar Shah Khairuddin and Tambun division chief Muhammad Arafat Varisai Mahamad who is also the Hulu Kinta assemblyperson.
“However, Arafat’s chances are rather slim as he is seen as a strong supporter of Rafizi Ramli,” said a Perak PKR source.
Aside from going for the Gombak division chief post, Farhash is said to be gunning to be the next deputy president.
The second-highest position in the party is currently vacant after predecessor Azmin Ali defected in February 2020 during the Sheraton Move political coup along with 10 other PKR MPs.
