Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's loss to Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR Deputy President position during the party's internal elections last night seemed unavoidable and likely the result of a well-planned strategy, writes T. Vignesh. - Facebook pic, May 25, 2025
From reformist to sidelined: where does Rafizi go from here? – T. Vignesh
After a crushing loss in the PKR deputy president race, the Pandan MP, once the wonderboy of the Reformasi movement, faces a reckoning—both within the party and in his role as economic minister
T. Vignesh
Updated 6 hours ago
25 May, 2025
8:00 AM MYT
DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli’s loss to Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR Deputy President position during the party’s internal elections last night seemed unavoidable and likely the result of a well-planned strategy by certain factions within the party.
In a result that many anticipated, Nurul Izzah secured 9,803 votes, significantly surpassing Rafizi’s 3,866 votes, winning by a margin of 72%.
This outcome marks a notable change in the party’s leadership as they gear up for the upcoming GE16 and GE17 elections.
It also suggests that Rafizi has lost the support of party members, especially those at the grassroots level, while Nurul Izzah capitalised on this decline in confidence.
Earlier this month, all members supporting Rafizi were defeated in their respective party division elections, hinting at the results we saw last night.
Ultimately, Rafizi can only hold himself accountable for his defeat, rather than blaming those who may have sought to see him removed.
While some may have plotted his exit from the Deputy President role, Rafizi did little to improve his own standing.
His downfall can be linked to his performance as Economic Minister and the tactics he employed leading up to the party elections.
Rafizi’s approach of encouraging votes for his opponent during the campaign backfired, and his actions just days before the elections—such as notifying the secretary-general and president of his refusal to officiate the Youth Wing and Women’s Wing Congress—may have been the tipping point.
As a result, members who might have initially planned to vote for him may have changed their minds.
What are Rafizi’s next steps?
Although Rafizi has shown relief at going back to private life and has reiterated his dedication to advocating for his political beliefs, it remains unclear whether he will continue as a member of PKR.
There is some uncertainty among the public regarding whether Rafizi will continue to pursue a ministerial position, especially since he has stated that he would resign if he loses in the party elections.
It remains to be seen if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will permit Rafizi to resign, given that the Prime Minister has indicated he does not plan to reshuffle the cabinet.
If Rafizi remains as the Economic Minister, there are several key issues he must address.
First, he should take charge of the US Tariff issue rather than leaving it to the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Anwar. Managing these matters falls under the responsibilities of the Economic Minister.
Additionally, Rafizi needs to reclaim the responsibility for leading the removal of the targeted RON95 subsidy from the Finance Ministry, as this is also part of the Economic Minister’s role.
Should he continue in his position, Rafizi must also focus on the registration of Malaysians with the government’s Central Database Hub (PADU) and the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR), which aims to enhance the socioeconomic conditions of low-income Malaysians.
Have the cybersecurity concerns related to PADU been addressed? If not, Rafizi needs to take action.
These are the issues that Rafizi should focus on and resolve, as his inaction could reflect poorly on the Madani Government.
We all want to see the Rafizi who bravely confronted the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and the 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandals, rather than the version of him that has shown frustration and disappointment, which has let the people down.
The public deserves competent leaders, and Rafizi could be among them if he gets back on track.
Ultimately, it’s up to Rafizi to help himself. – May 25, 2025
From reformist to sidelined: where does Rafizi go from here? – T. Vignesh
After a crushing loss in the PKR deputy president race, the Pandan MP, once the wonderboy of the Reformasi movement, faces a reckoning—both within the party and in his role as economic minister
T. Vignesh
Updated 6 hours ago
25 May, 2025
8:00 AM MYT
DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli’s loss to Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR Deputy President position during the party’s internal elections last night seemed unavoidable and likely the result of a well-planned strategy by certain factions within the party.
In a result that many anticipated, Nurul Izzah secured 9,803 votes, significantly surpassing Rafizi’s 3,866 votes, winning by a margin of 72%.
This outcome marks a notable change in the party’s leadership as they gear up for the upcoming GE16 and GE17 elections.
It also suggests that Rafizi has lost the support of party members, especially those at the grassroots level, while Nurul Izzah capitalised on this decline in confidence.
Earlier this month, all members supporting Rafizi were defeated in their respective party division elections, hinting at the results we saw last night.
Ultimately, Rafizi can only hold himself accountable for his defeat, rather than blaming those who may have sought to see him removed.
While some may have plotted his exit from the Deputy President role, Rafizi did little to improve his own standing.
His downfall can be linked to his performance as Economic Minister and the tactics he employed leading up to the party elections.
Rafizi’s approach of encouraging votes for his opponent during the campaign backfired, and his actions just days before the elections—such as notifying the secretary-general and president of his refusal to officiate the Youth Wing and Women’s Wing Congress—may have been the tipping point.
As a result, members who might have initially planned to vote for him may have changed their minds.
What are Rafizi’s next steps?
Although Rafizi has shown relief at going back to private life and has reiterated his dedication to advocating for his political beliefs, it remains unclear whether he will continue as a member of PKR.
There is some uncertainty among the public regarding whether Rafizi will continue to pursue a ministerial position, especially since he has stated that he would resign if he loses in the party elections.
It remains to be seen if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will permit Rafizi to resign, given that the Prime Minister has indicated he does not plan to reshuffle the cabinet.
If Rafizi remains as the Economic Minister, there are several key issues he must address.
First, he should take charge of the US Tariff issue rather than leaving it to the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Anwar. Managing these matters falls under the responsibilities of the Economic Minister.
Additionally, Rafizi needs to reclaim the responsibility for leading the removal of the targeted RON95 subsidy from the Finance Ministry, as this is also part of the Economic Minister’s role.
Should he continue in his position, Rafizi must also focus on the registration of Malaysians with the government’s Central Database Hub (PADU) and the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR), which aims to enhance the socioeconomic conditions of low-income Malaysians.
Have the cybersecurity concerns related to PADU been addressed? If not, Rafizi needs to take action.
These are the issues that Rafizi should focus on and resolve, as his inaction could reflect poorly on the Madani Government.
We all want to see the Rafizi who bravely confronted the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and the 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandals, rather than the version of him that has shown frustration and disappointment, which has let the people down.
The public deserves competent leaders, and Rafizi could be among them if he gets back on track.
Ultimately, it’s up to Rafizi to help himself. – May 25, 2025
T. Vignesh is Scoop’s executive editor
Rafizi's journey is more accurately characterised as Reformist to Ineffectual Minister to Sidelined.
ReplyDeleteThat is a more revealing description, instead of implying Rafizi for sidelined only on political maneuvering