KOTA KINABALU – PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli assured the people of Sabah that PKR will become the biggest political party in the state after the 16th general election (GE16).
Urging the existing members to stay in the party, he said no matter the result of the coming 15th general election, Sabah PKR members should persevere as the party that is now at its lowest point will rise again.
He said if he wins the party elections and becomes PKR deputy president, he has all his plans ready to ensure that the party will grow so much that it will be the biggest party in Sabah.
“We will ensure that we will build the party bit by bit. Five years is a long time in politics. I am confident that by the GE16, PKR will be the largest party in Sabah and PKR will be respected here,” said Rafizi at a talk session with Sabah PKR members in Tanjung Aru, today.
PKR won three parliament seats in Sabah during the 14th general election in 2018, but Ranau MP Datuk Jonathan Yasin left the party and joined Bersatu, leaving the party with only two federal seats in the state.
Sabah has 25 parliament seats.
“Our plan in Sabah in the general election is to try to contest in as many seats as we can. The seats that we have already won, we must defend.
“We will become a huge wave when GE16 comes. I know, because I am a businessman. I could read these waves. That is why I return to politics now, because just like the stock market, I forecast PKR, which is at its lowest point now, will rise to the top rapidly,” he said.
Not shy in asking for votes for the party election, Rafizi said if he is chosen to be number two, he would ensure to win seats for PKR in the state even with limited funding, just as he managed to secure 42 marginal seats out of 44 that he was tasked to handle in Peninsular Malaysia in the last general election.
He also said he would ensure that the grassroot level members would have more say in deciding and recommending candidates, and that he would determine and announce candidates in each seat earlier so that the candidate would have time to win the hearts of the people.
“The candidate does not have to be rich; he only needs to be hardworking and sincere in helping the people, and loyal to the party. The people are wiser than we think. If we work hard and we are sincere, we will win,” he said.
Rafizi also added that his methods of winning seats in Sabah would start from the central party in Kuala Lumpur, which will be announcing a very detailed manifesto about the party’s fight to restore Sabah’s rights according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Informing the people that we are going to fight for the MA63 is not going to be enough anymore. We need to come out with very specific details; break it down to the people how PKR fights for the MA63 will benefit them directly.
“We also want to ensure that once Sabah gets the allocation that they deserve, the money will really reach the people and will not benefit only several corrupt government officials or politicians. We will monitor and supervise the delivery of this allocation,” he added.
In March, Rafizi announced his intention to return to active politics by vying for his party’s deputy presidency in the upcoming party polls.
Meanwhile, in his efforts to secure votes from Sabah PKR members, Rafizi said that there is no other PKR leader that is as rebellious (kaki lawan) as he is.
“If you are looking for a leader who is a kaki lawan in the party to fight for what you want, then vote for me,” he said.
He added that among all PKR leaders, he is confident that he has the highest record of going to the ground to meet with the people. – The Vibes, May 8, 2022
