Rafizi says PKR polls a win for anti-big tent leaders

Mohd Farhan Darwis Chan Kok Leong Mohd Farhan Darwis, Chan Kok Leong Updated 1 year ago · Published on 16 Jul 2022 1:15PM · 2 Comments

Rafizi Ramli says the PKR elections show a majority of the party’s members are against the political big tent idea. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, July 16, 2022.

THE PKR elections show a majority of the party’s members are against the political big tent idea, Rafizi Ramli said.

The big tent issue will be decided after PKR concludes its central leadership committee elections tomorrow, he said.

“Based on the current results so far, at the central leadership, women and youth elections (yesterday), there are strong sentiments against a big tent.

“Let’s see the outcome later,” the newly elected deputy president told reporters on the sidelines of the 16th PKR congress in Shah Alam today.

Rafizi was responding to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s policy speech today that indicated he was still in favour of a political big tent for opposition parties. 

The former Pandan MP, who won the deputy president’s post, is against the big tent proposal after Bersatu withdrew from Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2020 and caused the government to fall. 

Adding to it, Rafizi said that PKR and PH’s grassroots are also clearly against the idea. 

“How will the leadership sway fence sitters if they cannot convince our own supporters?” Rafizi asked. 

“Whatever any leaders say, it does not escape the clear message that is coming from our grassroots. They do not trust our alliances with parties that are not the same as we are and we must respect that.”

PKR is holding the final central leadership elections today for 20 members. 

After the polls tomorrow, Rafizi said that the new committee’s first task is to strengthen PH. 

“And we will have to scrutinise all the efforts in bringing in new groups and parties and see the negative effects. 

“It’s okay if the additional parties strengthen us. But if it negatively affects us, we are just shooting ourselves in the foot.” 

Rafizi said he was open to the idea of PH not contesting certain seats but he does not want other parties to join the pact. 

“We can discuss five or six seats but it must not dilute PH’s strength. The new leadership will work towards building a framework that will be adhered to by all PKR leaders.

“My stand is clear on this. I do not speak in riddles,” he added. – July 16, 2022.

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Comments

  • Rafizi, the idealist but he will soon learn the hard way that politics is not only about what is black or white. There are shades of black called grey and shades of white, off white. There are also 5 other base colours in the universe.

    If this young man does not adapt fast, he is going to split the party further. Being leader of arguably one of the largest opposition parties is no longer just about PKR internal politics only but it permeates through the political environment of the whole country. There are other imperatives to consider that impacts us all. So we need to prioritize our objectives.

    It is good that a young team seem to be emerging from the PKR elections. Hopefully their approach and ideas will help define Malaysian politics in the future. A word of advice, you can learn some useful pointers from the older veterans. There are ways to skin a cat, as they say. Not only your way or MY WAY.

    Posted 1 year ago by Super Duper · Reply

  • Rafizi's position is the best way forward for PH. He has provided the clearest, principle-based path to better politics in this country. Even if it is unsuccessful come ge15, hold fast to sound principles. Never waiver. Anwar lost his edge because he over-compromised.

    Posted 1 year ago by Joe nuts · Reply