PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has defended his decision to seek re-election, stressing that it is vital to preserve the party’s reformist ideals and prevent it from becoming overrun with sycophants and unquestioning followers.
Rafizi, who is also Minister of Economy and MP for Pandan, said his candidacy was not driven by personal ambition but by a deep concern that PKR risks drifting away from its core mission unless constructive criticism is embraced.
“We respect party unity, but we have never accepted everything handed to us without question. If we disagree, we will say so,” Sinar Harian cited him saying during a podcast event titled ‘Yang Bakar Menteri: Yang Berhenti Menteri’ on Saturday.
While acknowledging he has no strong desire to hold ministerial office, Rafizi voiced discomfort over perceptions that PKR is now dominated by “yes-men” and sycophants. He also criticised the practice of cash handouts, hampers and gifts to win grassroots support — a tactic he said has no place in the party.
“Money politics, as practised by some within the party, is not PKR’s culture. I will not adopt it,” he added.
Responding to remarks from PKR deputy information chief Datuk Seri R Ramanan, who claimed the party was neglecting grassroots welfare, Rafizi pointed out that Ramanan joined PKR only in 2020 after MIC’s poor showing in the 2018 general election.
“I can’t blame him — he is new to the party — but in PKR, we build grassroots strength through outreach and hard work, not money politics,” Rafizi said.
“PKR is a reformist party. We support the grassroots by being present, strengthening our friends on the ground. The party doesn’t have the money to just hand out,” he added.
Making Baseless and Personal Remarks
Meanwhile, Johor Bahru PKR division chief Mohamad Taufiq Ismail has hit back at Rafizi, accusing him of making baseless and personal remarks in the same podcast.
Taufiq, who also leads Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Johor, described Rafizi’s comments — including labelling him “a kid we’ve never heard of” — as irresponsible and damaging to his leadership, which was recently confirmed for the 2025–2028 term.
“It is regrettable that a senior leader like Rafizi chose to make unfounded personal remarks, seemingly aimed at belittling my contributions as the newly elected Johor Bahru division chief,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Taufiq clarified that he holds a permanent job as an automotive mechanic in his family’s business and has long served the party in various roles, including as state AMK chief, local AMK leader, and division secretary.
“This party is not just for the elite, but for all Malaysians who genuinely want to fight for justice,” he said.
He also disputed Rafizi’s implication that AMK leader Akmal Nasir’s faction had swept the division elections, pointing out that his own team won the majority of top posts in Johor Bahru.
He noted that a recount and audit were held at the party headquarters on 2 May, attended by the party’s election committee and independent auditors from China, but claimed Akmal left before the process concluded.
Calling on Rafizi to withdraw his statements and issue a public apology, Taufiq warned that elitism and personal politics risk alienating young leaders committed to grassroots struggle.
“Personal politics and elitism must not be allowed to dim the spirit of young people who sincerely fight for the party and the nation,” he said. - May 11, 2025
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