Rafizi issues Anwar '98 exit from Umno' warning for PKR situation
Zarrah Morden
Published: Jul 19, 2025 8:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM
Summary
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli warned of growing dissatisfaction in the party's grassroots, comparing it to the exit of Umno members in 1998.
He said the unhappiness in the party stemmed from the recent PKR election, which saw members questioning the transparency of the voting process.
"Just like when reformasi happened in 1998, Umno members left the party at that time. Some of it was initially because of anger over (then deputy prime minister) Anwar Ibrahim’s dismissal, and some of it was because they couldn't accept the way things were.
"But I think a lot of it was also because (of them feeling like) ‘I don't know this party anymore’. So that's what I mean.
"In the madness of grabbing power or positions, don't let it come to making people feel like this is not (their) home anymore.
"When people get to this level that (they feel) ‘this is not my home’, it's dangerous, because... when they feel like that, they move on.
"When they've moved on, it's not easy to ask them to come back," he said last night in the latest episode of his podcast "Yang Berhenti Menteri".
Published: Jul 19, 2025 8:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM
Summary
- Rafizi Ramli likens dissatisfaction in PKR's grassroots to the Umno exodus during the 1998 reformasi movement, cautioning that party members may “move on” if they no longer feel at home.
- Ex-PKR deputy president says parties should not govern together if they disagree fundamentally, and that being in the opposition can still be valuable.
- On Nick Adams' nomination as the US ambassador to Malaysia, Rafizi urges pragmatism, suggesting that Malaysia leverages the influencer's close ties with Trump to influence tariff policies.
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli warned of growing dissatisfaction in the party's grassroots, comparing it to the exit of Umno members in 1998.
He said the unhappiness in the party stemmed from the recent PKR election, which saw members questioning the transparency of the voting process.
"Just like when reformasi happened in 1998, Umno members left the party at that time. Some of it was initially because of anger over (then deputy prime minister) Anwar Ibrahim’s dismissal, and some of it was because they couldn't accept the way things were.
"But I think a lot of it was also because (of them feeling like) ‘I don't know this party anymore’. So that's what I mean.
"In the madness of grabbing power or positions, don't let it come to making people feel like this is not (their) home anymore.
"When people get to this level that (they feel) ‘this is not my home’, it's dangerous, because... when they feel like that, they move on.
"When they've moved on, it's not easy to ask them to come back," he said last night in the latest episode of his podcast "Yang Berhenti Menteri".
(File photo) Protesters took to the streets to demand justice for Anwar Ibrahim in 1998
In 1998, Anwar was sacked from all of his positions, including as Umno's deputy president, leading to public protests against then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the birth of the reformasi movement.
Some Umno grassroots leaders took to the streets to demand justice for Anwar.
Being opposition
The recent PKR polls saw Rafizi and his allies defeated after allegations of electoral irregularities, particularly involving the party’s electronic voting system, at the divisional level.
Rafizi, after losing his deputy presidency to Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah, resigned as the economy minister and his ally Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned as the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister shortly after.
Commenting further, Rafizi said political parties should not come together to form a government if they disagree on core issues.
After all, it's not so bad being the opposition, he said, pointing to the bloc's importance as a check and balance.
He said being in the government has its pros and cons - for example, it enables one to act by formulating policies, but it was a process that takes time.
"As the opposition, you don't actually have to do anything, but if you have good ideas and facts, we can be a check and balance that the government ultimately has to follow... and that is the function that Pakatan Harapan and PKR had played for a long time," he said.
He spoke more on the formation of the so-called unity government, which saw Harapan joining hands with former rival BN.
In 1998, Anwar was sacked from all of his positions, including as Umno's deputy president, leading to public protests against then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the birth of the reformasi movement.
Some Umno grassroots leaders took to the streets to demand justice for Anwar.
Being opposition
The recent PKR polls saw Rafizi and his allies defeated after allegations of electoral irregularities, particularly involving the party’s electronic voting system, at the divisional level.
Rafizi, after losing his deputy presidency to Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah, resigned as the economy minister and his ally Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned as the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister shortly after.
Commenting further, Rafizi said political parties should not come together to form a government if they disagree on core issues.
After all, it's not so bad being the opposition, he said, pointing to the bloc's importance as a check and balance.
He said being in the government has its pros and cons - for example, it enables one to act by formulating policies, but it was a process that takes time.
"As the opposition, you don't actually have to do anything, but if you have good ideas and facts, we can be a check and balance that the government ultimately has to follow... and that is the function that Pakatan Harapan and PKR had played for a long time," he said.
He spoke more on the formation of the so-called unity government, which saw Harapan joining hands with former rival BN.
After the 15th general election, none of the three coalitions gained the simple majority required for the formation of a government.
Rafizi said after the results, BN could not decisively select between Harapan and Perikatan Nasional as they had to listen to both sides first.
However, upon hearing that BN was left disappointed after its meeting with PN, Rafizi said he quickly drafted a one-page list of commitments Harapan could offer Umno that then Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail passed to Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.
"Finally, I was informed that in the last BN meeting, their view was that yes, Harapan has DAP and PKR, but it seems they (Harapan) are more sincere because at least they have set out all the principles of how we want to share power.
"If with PN, they would just be running their mouths, and they can't even look at us. So that (list of commitments) is what tilted the balance (towards Harapan)," he said.
US envoy
On the controversial nomination of Nick Adams as the United States ambassador to Malaysia, Rafizi opined that the influencer could be leveraged to secure a good relationship with the White House over the matter of its tariffs.
"For me, the most important thing is this, no matter what, we have to make sure that in the tariff war that is happening now, we have a strong influence with the White House, with (President Donald) Trump.
"From that perspective, if Malaysia is good at balancing, if Adams is a political influencer who is close to Trump, it should be used as a good strategy by our government.
"So, we can't look at it from just one perspective because no matter how we protest, it is most likely that he will still be there," he said.
Donald Trump nominated Nick Adams (left) as the next US ambassador to Malaysia
If Adams were to express Zionist views during his ambassadorship, there are ways that Malaysia could formally object, such as by sending the US a diplomatic note, Rafizi added.
The New York Times recently reported that Trump has nominated Adams to serve as the next US ambassador to Malaysia.
If Adams were to express Zionist views during his ambassadorship, there are ways that Malaysia could formally object, such as by sending the US a diplomatic note, Rafizi added.
The New York Times recently reported that Trump has nominated Adams to serve as the next US ambassador to Malaysia.
Adams has been facing mounting rejection calls from various quarters in Malaysia since the announcement.
Yesterday, a crowd of 50 protesters submitted a memorandum to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur objecting to Adams' nomination.
The 40-year-old Australian-American influencer, author, and self-described “alpha male” would be replacing Edgard Kagan, a career diplomat who was nominated by former president Joe Biden in May 2023.
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