Join Gerak Independent, we have no baggage, co-founder tells Rafizi

KUALA LUMPUR – Gerak Independent’s (GI) co-founder Mohd Tawfik Ismail extended an open invitation to former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli to join the movement of non-partisan politicians.

Weighing in on Rafizi’s recent announcement about returning to active politics, Tawfiq said the voters in the recent Johor elections, and those who refrained from casting ballots to severely punish “those with no integrity”, are the harbingers of the next general election (GE15).

In a statement last night, he suggested that Rafizi, also a former Pandan MP, cut ties with the PH component and run as an independent instead.

“Nothing is going to change unless the key people in the opposition themselves change for the better, and work deliberately and urgently now to change their party’s standing,” Tawfik, who is a former Sungai Benut MP, said.

“If you think that it is beyond the capabilities of PKR to change with the times, then please come join us as an independent in Gerak Independent.”

Tawfik, the son of former deputy prime minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, said that unlike PKR, GI is just getting started and does not carry any baggage.

He also insisted that GI is striving for the integrity of votes by “focusing on the individual’s commitment to integrity and principles and effective change, rather than party promises and compromises”.

On Tuesday, Rafizi announced that he will rejoin active politics by vying to be deputy president in the coming party polls.

He alleged that the PH presidential council has agreed to discuss with the Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) the possibility of working together to face the next general election.

He also said PH’s heavy loss in the Johor election on March 12 marked the fourth electoral defeat for PKR and PH – following Sabah in 2020, and Melaka and Sarawak last year.

Rafizi’s return to active politics has riled up former Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador, who said the move implies that he will take on PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In February this year, Tawfik and other individuals such as lawyer Siti Kasim and K.J. John were publicised as being among the ten names under GI slated to contest in GE15.

Siti is expected to run in Batu, while K.J. John will take on Petaling Jaya, and Raveentheran Suntheralingam is said to eye Wangsa Maju.

However, lawyer Charles Chow, who had aimed to contest for the Subang seat, pulled out from the race about a week after he was announced as a GI candidate.

The aforementioned four seats are currently held by PKR. 

This prompted PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin to take GI to task for targeting seats now held by PH. 

He said that while he welcomes anyone to contest in whichever seat they see fit, the motives and expectations of the movement should be questioned.

“Instead of trying to ‘shake up’ PH seats, the independent candidates should have gone for Barisan Nasional strongholds,” he said. – The Vibes, March 18, 2022