The nomination of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the opposition’s candidate for prime minister has shone the spotlight on senior Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leader Azmin Ali, with questions being raised about his political future.

Malaysian observers and politicians say the Singapore-born Azmin, 53, is widely seen as one of the most promising politicians in the opposition ranks and a potential prime ministerial candidate, having been in the politics for over 30 years.

While he has not held any top posts, he is generally regarded to have done a good job as Chief Minister of Selangor since 2014 and remains popular among voters in Malaysia’s richest state.

At the same time, his leadership style has also ruffled some feathers within his own party as well as in the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

“Azmin is a reasonable candidate for prime minister, but despite this, opinions on him remains divided,” said Mr Rashaad Ali, a research analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ (RSIS) Malaysia Programme.

“(Still), his rise to the position of Selangor Chief Minister and his success in the position indicate he has the mettle for greater responsibilities in the future.”

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