KUALA LUMPUR – Winning the deputy presidency does not give Rafizi Ramli a free rein on PKR, Tian Chua reminded, as the reformist party enters a new political chapter following the conclusion of its election.
Rafizi, who is known to speak his mind, defeated PKR stalwart Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for the number two post, following a campaign that saw him focusing on internal restrengthening and snubbing the “big tent” approach championed by the latter.
Acknowledging Rafizi’s objection to the idea of cooperation outside Pakatan Harapan, Chua, who lost his Batu division chief post in the recently concluded party polls, said the former must respect the existing policies and strategies within PKR.
He said any proposal in facing the coming general election (GE) must be based on today’s political reality that no single party can independently win the poll, and that a more pragmatic approach is needed to ensure victory.
So, whatever slogans he (Rafizi) and his faction have used to win the party election, put those aside. We have to look realistically on how we are able to withstand the test of the next GE and the resurgence of Umno’s onslaught,” he told The Vibes yesterday.
Apart from Rafizi, those aligned with him also clinched victories in the majority of key party positions, with Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Chang Lih Kang winning three of the four vice-president posts, and Rodziah Ismail becoming the new Wanita chief.
“I think winning doesn’t mean that those people can impose their ideas based on their whims and fancies on the entire party. The party has to develop strategies based on the political reality and people's expectation of us,” Chua said.
“I still think the public wants to see us doing well in the GE. So, we must defend the inroads we have already made in the last 20 years, like defending the states of Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan, and then make an advance for Putrajaya.
“This is what the rakyat wants to see, not just individual displays. Whoever won cannot be acting alone and say we can ignore the others. They must be able to be united with the whole party.”
Don’t change PKR’s core principles
While there have been calls for changes to be made internally, Chua stressed that some of the basic tenets of PKR’s struggles must be maintained.
He does not believe that members have given their mandate to certain leaders for them to deviate from PKR’s core principles, including on inclusivity and diversity, as well as the party being the backbone of coalition politics.
“We cannot assume that by winning, only one team will be controlling the party. From day one of our formation, we have been very diverse and internally inclusive.
On top of that, we cannot abandon our responsibility to be the backbone of the coalition. And from the political reality standpoint, I think we know that no one party can emerge victorious in the GE if they stand alone.”
On the appointment of another three vice-presidents on top of the elected four, Chua said Anwar, as the president, will have the sole prerogative to determine the individuals, but said these should not be based on factional interests but rather on merit, with priority given to minority and marginalised groups.
Meanwhile, PKR’s Sg Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah shared a similar view, saying Rafizi’s approach of not working together with other parties under a big tent is not the PKR’s official stand, and that the matter will only be finalised once the new leadership decides on it.
On the poor election outing faced by Saifuddin and his faction, Sivarasa said the victory secured by Rafizi and his team was most likely due to his popularity within and outside the party.
“Even when he contested for the same position against Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali in 2018, he did put up a good showing. As far as the party is concerned, members have now voted for Rafizi, and that is how it is.”
While this year’s contest has been largely amicable compared to four years ago, Sivarasa said the duty is now on Anwar, as the uncontested president, to unite the party and eliminate any internal friction ahead of the all-important GE. – The Vibes, May 31, 2022
