PKR’S Subang MP has leapt to Rafizi Ramli’s defence after he came under attack by social media users for saying Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad bulldozed through the appointments of three cabinet ministers.

Malaysiakini reported Wong Chen as saying the party vice-president’s statement came from a place of concern, as he did not want the new Pakatan Harapan government to get off to a bad start.

“And for this, he is vilified by most of you. It is precisely this unhealthy attitude of Malaysians never to question authority… that is the main reason why we allowed Rosmah and Najib to rule us for nine years,” he said in a Facebook post.

He was referring to former prime minister Najib Razak and Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Wong said given that PKR is the biggest component in the PH government, with 47 MPs and an independent lawmaker aligned with the party, it is reasonable for Rafizi to speak up when no representative from PKR was chosen for the three cabinet posts announced today.

Dr Mahathir announced that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin will be home minister, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (finance minister) and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu (defence minister).

“Nothing yet for PKR, the single largest party in PH? So, what did Rafizi do that is so wrong in the eyes of the public?” said Wong.

“He is telling truth to power, that these appointments were made without PKR’s consent.”

Rafizi, in a statement issued in response to queries on why there were no PKR representatives at the press conference where the ministers were announced, said the appointments were Dr Mahathir’s unilateral decision and are not final.

He was slammed after issuing the statement. Besides ordinary Malaysians, those who criticised him include prominent human rights activist Ambiga Sreenevasan, Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad and DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke.

Ambiga tweeted, “PKR, please stop your nonsense”, while Khalid and Loke concurred that all PH parties had agreed to the three appointments before the announcement was made. – May 12, 2018.