DESPITE their differences, newly elected deputy president Rafizi Ramli has moved to close ranks with president Anwar Ibrahim by declaring that he will not betray the 74-year-old.

“I may be blunt but I’m no Azmin Ali,” said Rafizi in his fierce comeback speech at the 16th PKR national congress in Shah Alam today.

“I am not someone who has sweet lips but stabs you in the back later.

“And I have never promised to break prison walls to break Anwar out. He said it but then tried to be prime minister behind everyone’s back,” said the 44-year-old.

Rafizi, who defied the odds to return to politics by beating Anwar’s closest ally Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in the race for number two, was responding to speculation that there was a rift between him and Anwar.

In the run-up to the congress, they have differed over whether Pakatan Harapan (PH) should have a big tent to include other parties.

While Anwar has kept an open-door policy, Rafizi has firmly refused to work with non-PH parties after Bersatu brought down the federal government in 2020 by withdrawing from the coalition.

But while Rafizi’s direct and public criticism of the big tent proposal fuelled the speculation, the younger man was quick to point to their long relationship.

He said he went all around the country to campaign for PH.

“We knew that the only way to free Anwar was to win the elations. Not the rhetoric of breaking prison walls,” he said bluntly.

Explaining his position, Rafizi confessed that he was blunt and direct in his criticism because he did not harbour any ambitions.

“After a long time, I met Anwar last year and he asked if I would take a position in Putrajaya if there was a chance. I didn’t answer as I am not interested.

“When Pakatan won in 2018, I also did not take up any position. I do not regret this as it is my choice.

“If I criticise the party, I do it because we have a responsibility to the voters and the party. That’s my promise. I will always talk like this,” he added. – July 17, 2022.