KUALA LUMPUR – PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has downplayed the possibility of infighting in the upcoming party election, similar to the one that transpired during Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s last days with the political outfit.
The Kulim Bandar Baru lawmaker, who will be facing Rafizi Ramli for the deputy presidency, said he does not see the squaring off between the two party leaders for the number two post as something which would result in a crisis and defections later.
“I admit that in the back of party members and the public’s heads, they equate the PKR election to a disaster and infighting. I would like to say that this will not repeat itself.
“What happened before was that some of those who won then betrayed the party. Now, there are only two possibilities; me or Rafizi. I don’t see our characters repeating what Azmin did,” said Saifuddin after attending the government-Pakatan Harapan (PH) political stability and transformation steering committee meeting today.
He was asked to comment by journalists on whether he foresees a party crisis happening post election, as happened during its last polls in 2018.
Back then, Azmin, who was defending his deputy president’s post, was involved in an internal battle against those aligned to president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Despite winning his seat, Azmin continued to have a fractious relationship with Anwar before he and his faction quit the party in February 2020.
His group had conspired with then opposition Barisan Nasional and PAS under the Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the PH administration and the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government.
Saifuddin said he has been following some of the media reports and analysis pertaining to the potential infighting in PKR, but said they do not truly understand the new dynamic in PKR.
Touching on his contest against Rafizi, who only recently announced his return to active politics, Saifuddin said he is looking forward to what he describes as a friendly competition.
When asked whether he would continue to be active in politics even if he loses in the election, he said being a through-and-through politician with no other commitments, he would have no choice but continue to play a role in PKR.
Separately, when questioned if he has finalised the list of names that will be competing in his team for the various positions in the party election, Saifuddin said he regards every contender the same.
“I have received multiple requests to work together, and I am open to the idea. But the fact is, my ‘cai’ (camp) is the whole PKR leadership who have offered themselves to contest.
“When we talk about cai, there are pros and cons. Sometimes, this can lead to factionalism. That is what we are trying to avoid.” – The Vibes, April 7, 2022
