PETALING JAYA, 27 April 2009: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will take on a more prominent role after a reshuffle in the party organisation announced today.
Wan Azizah, whose profile has been lower since giving up her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat for husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last August, is now in charge of monitoring media coverage and responding to current issues.
This was among several other changes affecting the portfolios of PKR’s senior leaders made at the party’s monthly meeting today.
“Her presence needs to be more prominent,” said PKR adviser Anwar of Wan Azizah’s new duties. Anwar announced the reshuffle in a statement on his website today.
Anwar said the changes were made in order help the party re-focus on its cause and strengthen its machinery as well as services to the people.
PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali will focus on policy issues such as politics, the economy, education and culture. He will also handle issues related to Malay Malaysians.
Vice-president Azmin Ali, who was previously in charge of elections, will now head a task force to strengthen the party at state and division levels. The task force will also supervise the performance and discipline of state and division leaders, and of PKR Members of Parliament (MPs) and state assemblypersons.
Other members of this task force are the other party vice-presidents Dr Lee Boon Chye, R Sivarasa, Mustafa Kamil Ayub and Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and PKR Women’s wing head Zuraidah Kamaruddin are also members.
Mustafa Kamil also heads the party’s international relations committee. His deputy is former Gerakan Federal Territory chief Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong.
The new information chief is Latheefa Koya, who replaces Tian Chua. Chua is now in charge of strategic affairs.
The disciplinary committee is headed by Datuk Yeop Adlan Che Rose.
The political bureau includes Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, former MCA Wanita deputy chief Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew, Kapar MP S Manikavasagam, Wangsa Maju MP and PKR supreme council member Wee Choo Keong, and Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan.
Party headquarters, operations and machinery will now be handled by PKR secretary-general Datuk Sallehuddin Hashim. He is also in charge of the party’s management committee and membership recruitment.
Other changes are Saifuddin Nasution as the elections director, Johnson Chong as communications chief, Fauziah Salleh as the training committee head, and Johari Abdul as the new members’ committee head. 
