[UPDATED] Unnecessary to ‘poke’, but that’s Rafizi: Anwar hits back

SHAH ALAM – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hit back at his newly elected party deputy president Rafizi Ramli for using the party congress to speak out against him. 

While acknowledging that it is typical for his party subordinate to be critical at times, Anwar finds Rafizi’s behaviour to “poke” unnecessarily quite uncalled-for.

“It is typical of Rafizi. He will indicate his support but also be critical at times,” he said during a press conference at the Ideal Convention Centre today. 

“I don’t think it’s necessary to always take a position to poke unnecessarily, but that is Rafizi.

“I should understand him, I have known him for decades. What is important is our commitment to work together to forge ahead with this new consensus.”

Earlier today, Rafizi hit out at party members who appear bent on defending Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on all matters, saying he will not be drawn into playing such a role.

Rafizi took issue with certain quarters within the party whom he said are constantly brown-nosing their president.

The former Pandan MP believes that Anwar does not need any defending and that the party’s priority should instead be on appealing to voters in their bid to recapture Putrajaya.

“He knows his focus, his role. He is no longer Rafizi ‘di pinggiran’ (on the sideline) but today’s Rafizi is in party top leadership.  

“Therefore, he must accept this fact, because I will be delegating many important duties to him. He will be responsible for the party directly,” he said.  

However, he said Rafizi will not face any party disciplinary actions and opined that the latter’s frank and direct “attacks” would not further divide the party.

“We are unlike other parties. I don’t think this is a problem for the party, including Rafizi’s criticism. 

“But if you look at Umno’s culture, this would be considered an offence requiring disciplinary action. 

“We are not Umno and our culture is more open.” – The Vibes, July 16, 2022