THERE is no doubt Anwar Ibrahim is still Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) choice as prime minister candidate, as there is no other prominent figure in the coalition capable of taking up the mantle, Rafizi Ramli said.

PKR’s deputy president said there is no denying the PH chairman is most suited for the top post.

“There is no question from PH or PKR that the candidate for prime minister this time is Anwar.

“We have gone through the arguments that Anwar should be replaced, but we still haven’t got a ‘tokoh’ (prominent figure) from PH who can garner huge support from the people,” Rafizi told The Malaysian Insight.

He said it is academic and pointless to discuss alternate candidates when the coalition doesn’t have a better contender.

“He is the best we have. So, the issue now is with the best candidate, we have to close that gap of expectations with the voters.

“Because if we want to say that Anwar is old, Dr Mahathir Mohamad (former prime minister) is also old.

“If people want to say he has no experience, he was with the government for 16 years in the past,” Rafizi said.

He said with the prime minister candidate made clear, PH should be able to win over fence sitters, especially the youth.

“We still have room to convince the youth and fence sitters that Anwar is the best hope for the future,” said the former Pandan MP.

He added that the list of candidates for the 15th general election will be finalised by the end of next month together with their manifesto.

“PKR plans to contest about 80 seats as Bersatu seats will be divided by all parties. We have the incumbents and those who are working in areas we did not win.

“We have potential candidates and a new set of people we will consider.”

However, the process to officially select candidates has yet to begin.

“For PKR, by the end of August the framework and process for candidate selection will be finalised.

“Assuming that the election will be held soon, by the end of next month we should have finalised the list.

“It is not so much of a choice, but the timeframe imposed. If we have not settled the candidates by September, we will be in trouble.”

On Sunday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that GE15 is close.

“As such, we must work as if election will be held tomorrow. It won’t be long.

“I cannot reveal more but elections are not too far off. We are ready and I hope you will promote the government’s good news,” the Umno vice-president said.

Rafizi said Bersatu’s 52 seats will be negotiated among all four parties in PH or other parties that wish to align with PH, and they think have a better chance of winning.

In GE14, BN contested 222 seats (won 79), PKR (71, won 48), DAP (47, won 42), Bersatu (52, won 12), Amanah (34, won 11) and PAS (157, won 18).

As for the PH manifesto, Rafizi said the committee will convene very soon. PKR divisions also have made appointments for specific people to work on the manifesto, he said.

“It is definitely on the move and if we are preparing for an October general election, the manifesto has be finalised and approved by end of September.

“The first draft will be given to PH within the first two weeks of September.”

On where he plans to contest in GE15, Rafizi said he will logically contest in Pandan.

“Of course we have to go through the party process eventually who should contest where, given the circumstances and what’s best for the party.

“Logically my political foray began in Pandan and I think the support and grassroots base there are very strong.

“For the time being it is safe to say I should be able to contest in Pandan.”

In 2018, history was made in the Dewan Rakyat, when PH came into power by defeating Barisan Nasional.

After governing the country for 22 months, PH collapsed due to the Sheraton Move.

The 2020 manoeuvre saw BN, Bersatu, PAS, and a faction led by PKR’s then deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali joining forces to topple the PH government.

This eventually led to Muhyiddin Yassin being appointed the country’s eighth prime minister. – August 5, 2022.