SEREMBAN: More PKR Youth division leaders have called for an emergency general meeting (EGM) of the wing, citing loss of confidence in national Youth chief Akmal Nasir, who had led an organisational reshuffle that saw the removal of several party leaders in Selangor and Perlis.

       Three PKR Youth leaders in Negri Sembilan called for the EGM, claiming that Akmal had not only failed to unite Youth members but was the cause of the wing to be further divided.

       In a statement, Rembau Youth chief Mohd Effendi Mat Aris, Ahmad Izzudin Ismail (Rasah) and Muhamad Affandi Abdul Malik (Port Dickson) accused Akmal of creating a crisis in the party through the removal of those leaders amid efforts by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to focus on keeping Perikatan Nasional in check.

       They questioned the criteria used by Akmal to evaluate the performance of a state Youth chief.

       The trio also said they had also lost confidence in the leadership of state Youth leader Hafiz Mohamad.

       They claimed that Hafiz had failed to carry out any initiatives to improve the Youth divisions in Negri Sembilan despite being appointed to the post almost a year ago.

       On Wednesday, a group of axed PKR Youth leaders called for an EGM of the wing, citing their loss of confidence in Akmal’s leadership.

       In a joint statement, former Selangor Youth chief Najwan Halimi, former Perlis Youth chief Azam Karap, former party Youth vice-chief Syed Badli Shah, former Youth assistant secretary Naqib Nasruddin, former deputy party strategic director Fakhrul Razi Zailan and former party student bureau chief Shahrul Nizam criticised their termination, which came about following a reshuffle by Akmal.

       They claimed Akmal had failed to carry out his responsibilities and that as many as 110 out of 137 Youth chiefs had lost their confidence in his leadership.

       PKR Youth had previously explained that the decision to terminate the six came about following a special motion approved at a party congress to better prepare for the 15th General Election.

       In Melaka, a group of PKR Youth leaders also called for an EGM, saying that they wanted a new PKR Youth chief “to ensure stability in the wing as well as to strengthen the party”.

       On Wednesday, Akmal defended his decision to reshuffle and dissolve the state youth committees in Perlis and Selangor, saying it was time to give a chance to younger members to lead.

       “The main reason for the reshuffle is to give space to new faces as I believe there must be a continuity of leadership and this is proof to the youth out there that PKR provides opportunities for them, ” Akmal said.

       “As the party youth chief, I am friends to all.”