THE PKR deputy president post’s cannot determine whether Anwar Ibrahim becomes the next prime minister, a party leader aligned to the incumbent Azmin Ali said, as campaigning from rival Rafizi Ramli heats up ahead of elections this month.

This is because the succession plan was agreed to by the four Pakatan Harapan parties, said Haniza Talha, who is contesting the Wanita chief post.

“All PH leaders have already agreed that Anwar will be prime minister. So there’s no need to act like a hero as if the deputy president’s post can determine the matter,” Haniza told The Malaysian Insight.

The Lembah Jaya assemblyman and Selangor exco for housing and urban living was commenting on Rafizi’s campaign for the post, where he claimed to be the best choice to ensure that Anwar, the president-elect, succeeds Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Rafizi has been criss-crossing the country addressing PKR members. His team-mates also allege that Azmin is Dr Mahathir’s “lackey” and that the latter is plotting to prevent Anwar from becoming prime minister.

“Team Rafizi” has also accused the economic affairs minister of promoting the “Umno culture” of feudalism.  

“Rafizi looks desperate promoting himself like he has no other capital to use,” said Haniza, who is supporting Azmin’s bid to defend the deputy presidency.

Rafizi has been promoting his reformist ideals and tying his campaign to the 20th anniversary of the reformasi movement that began in 1998 following Anwar’s sacking as deputy prime minister and subsequent jailing.

In contrast, Azmin’s campaign has been low-profile and he is said to be meeting party members in small groups.

Amid Rafizi’s attacks, Azmin took a long time before responding that he would defend his post and for the most part, has refused to comment on the claims against him.

Other leaders supportive of Azmin point to his experience as former Selangor menteri besar, while Rafizi, the former Pandan MP, a former party secretary-general and who heads data analytics outfit Invoke Malaysia, lack such administrative background. 

Another Azmin supporter, party vice-president Chua Tian Chang recently dismissed Rafizi’s claim on the next prime minister’s appointment as “nonsensical”. 

“I do not see the contest between Rafizi Ramli and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as something that will ensure the appointment of the next prime minister.

“Even if the prime minister candidate is picked by all PKR members and the party central leadership, the candidacy can only be realised by PH’s consensus,” the former Batu MP better known as Tian Chua told the New Straits Times recently.

Sociopolitical analyst  Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said as PH parties have already agreed that Anwar would succeed Dr Mahathir as prime minister in two years, it would be hard for the coalition to break the agreement without political fallout.

“Also, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong has approved the choice of Anwar (as prime minister),” said the Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturer said, rejecting the view that the PKR deputy president could determine Anwar’s succession. – September 11, 2018.