'Not interested' Rafizi contesting to show PKR not party of sycophants
Haspaizi Zain
Published: May 11, 2025 9:09 AM
Updated: 12:35 PM
Summary
- Rafizi Ramli is defending his PKR deputy presidency to show that the party is not made up of sycophants.
- He says his challenger and long-time ally, Nurul Izzah Anwar, will have to take on a war footing if she wins and fend off nepotism accusations at the same time.
- Rafizi also pans the party’s election committee on its poor handling of complaints, adding that the way the internal polls are handled needs to change.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli is defending his post, although he is not interested in positions, to show that the party is not made up of sycophants and apple polishers.
“Some asked me… why waste your time, YB, you don’t have to run.
“My view is this: if before this, our party was respected because of our objective culture, if we disagree with something, there will be voices of disagreement.
“So if I don’t run for deputy president, even though I’m not particularly keen on becoming deputy president, a minister, or anything, my concern is that I will confirm the public’s view that PKR has too many sycophants and flatterers,” he added.
Rafizi was commenting on his upcoming battle for the deputy presidency with Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar
Nurul Izzah garnered widespread support from the leadership of PKR branches to vie for the post, while simultaneously facing criticism of nepotism from political rivals.
War footing and answering nepotism criticisms
Rafizi said Nurul Izzah must be ready to take on the role of PKR’s “war commander” if she is elected as the party’s deputy president.
“If she becomes the deputy, she must take over my responsibilities as the number one fighter against those who blindly support (the opposition), in exposing projects like the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, acting as a party negotiator, negotiating with BN... and confronting the ‘walaun’ (the term given to opposition supporters).
“No matter who is chosen for the position, it’s not just about the offers being made, but how it is to be executed and driven forward,” the economy minister said during the “Yang Bakar Menteri” podcast last night.
He also emphasised the importance of possessing strategies that can energise and ignite the spirit to bring about change.
Nurul Izzah garnered widespread support from the leadership of PKR branches to vie for the post, while simultaneously facing criticism of nepotism from political rivals.
War footing and answering nepotism criticisms
Rafizi said Nurul Izzah must be ready to take on the role of PKR’s “war commander” if she is elected as the party’s deputy president.
“If she becomes the deputy, she must take over my responsibilities as the number one fighter against those who blindly support (the opposition), in exposing projects like the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, acting as a party negotiator, negotiating with BN... and confronting the ‘walaun’ (the term given to opposition supporters).
“No matter who is chosen for the position, it’s not just about the offers being made, but how it is to be executed and driven forward,” the economy minister said during the “Yang Bakar Menteri” podcast last night.
He also emphasised the importance of possessing strategies that can energise and ignite the spirit to bring about change.
Rafizi said while Nurul Izzah has her own arguments for contesting the deputy president post, she, however, must be prepared to answer to the public, including facing attacks from the opposition.
“When Nurul Izzah contests the deputy president post, our party can’t avoid the issue of nepotism, and everyone will have their own arguments.
“It’s up to Nurul Izzah to make her case. I have no intention of prolonging this issue, but I am concerned about public perception,” he added.
Nurul Izzah, 44, will face off against Rafizi in a straight contest for the party’s number two post despite their long-standing alliance in the past.
A victory could pave the way for her eventual rise to the PKR presidency, as Anwar, who secured the top post uncontested, enters his final term due to the party’s three-term limit.
Internal election issues
Rafizi also criticised the PKR election process and the failure of the election committee, accusing its chairperson, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, of not addressing complaints regarding alleged irregularities.
PKR Central Election Committee chairperson Dr Zaliha Mustafa
“I have long been vocal within the party, and my concern is that when we come into power, people rush to join the party because we give room for as many members as we can bring in.
“Some of these members I call ‘Airbnb members’, who join during the election, and then leave afterwards, disappearing.
“So, if we can filter them out, we know early on (if they are members of other parties) and we oppose it. For example, in Jempol, a re-election was conducted because the winning candidate for the branch chief position was also part of the Pejuang Malacca committee.
“I need to address the committee. If Zaliha wants to be angry, let her be. That’s the responsibility of the committee... It’s supposed to be an independent body that filters everything. When there is an objection, you must respond to each one. Sometimes objections go unanswered, even hundreds of them, and when we ask, they act as if they don’t know,” he added.
Rafizi also criticised PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh for failing to act against other party members who joined the internal election.
He said that the issue of other members participating in the PKR election should have been handled by Fuziah because membership matters fall under her purview.
“I think a lot needs to be renewed in how we handle our elections,” he added.
“I have long been vocal within the party, and my concern is that when we come into power, people rush to join the party because we give room for as many members as we can bring in.
“Some of these members I call ‘Airbnb members’, who join during the election, and then leave afterwards, disappearing.
“So, if we can filter them out, we know early on (if they are members of other parties) and we oppose it. For example, in Jempol, a re-election was conducted because the winning candidate for the branch chief position was also part of the Pejuang Malacca committee.
“I need to address the committee. If Zaliha wants to be angry, let her be. That’s the responsibility of the committee... It’s supposed to be an independent body that filters everything. When there is an objection, you must respond to each one. Sometimes objections go unanswered, even hundreds of them, and when we ask, they act as if they don’t know,” he added.
Rafizi also criticised PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh for failing to act against other party members who joined the internal election.
He said that the issue of other members participating in the PKR election should have been handled by Fuziah because membership matters fall under her purview.
“I think a lot needs to be renewed in how we handle our elections,” he added.
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