KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been the undisputed face of PKR for close to two decades. However, the election of Rafizi Ramli as the new deputy president could soon see a shift in the dynamics within the party.
The former Pandan MP secured a rather surprising victory in the recently concluded party polls, as he defeated Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail despite having neither the advantage of incumbency nor the supposed blessing of his president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Whether he has any ambition for an even more prominent role in the party remains a question, but political observers believe if he plays his cards right and things fall into place, Rafizi could soon find himself on PKR’s perch.
Key to his rise will be his ability to be more inclusive and to win over the hearts of all party members, particularly those currently not aligned with him, they said.
“Having won the deputy presidency race, Rafizi could certainly be the new poster boy and face of PKR,” National Professors’ Council senior fellow Prof Jeniri Amir told The Vibes.
He has the potential to be the next party president. It all depends on how he portrays himself as a leader, and how he can get the backing of all party members.”
While Rafizi has never expressed any desire to go for the top post, calls for Anwar to make way for younger leaders within the party have amplified following PKR’s poor showings in recent state elections in Sarawak, Melaka and Johor.
These murmurs are expected to grow louder if the party suffers another disastrous outing in the coming general election due by September next year.
As for Rafizi, his rise within the PKR ranks is seen by many as fitting, considering the significant role he played in Pakatan Harapan's victory in the 2018 polls.
Rafizi’s time outside PKR instrumental
For Jeniri, the PKR election result is a sign that there is a strong sentiment among the grassroots that they want to see change at the top, with the party seen to be still struggling to move past the problems that have bogged them down since the Sheraton Move – which saw the Pakatan Harapan government being overthrown in early 2021.
The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak adjunct professor said that by spending his last two years taking a break from active politics, Rafizi has gathered a more holistic view of how the party should move forward.
Rafizi had announced his exit from political activity in December 2019 to focus on his start-up project. He, however, maintained his position as party vice-president.
He then announced his return in March this year in time for the party election.
Regardless, Jeniri said acting with the backing of his own supporters alone will not be sufficient to revive a depleted PKR, and that more brains from the entire party are required to carry the outfit.
To say that Rafizi can implement changes alone is an exaggeration. His first challenge will be to get the multiple factions to unite behind him and Anwar. PKR can’t afford another split.
“He cannot afford to have a ‘winner takes all’ mentality. To be a leader, he needs to be seen as sincere, inclusive and dynamic, and have the right vision, wisdom and temperament. He needs to mellow down on his sulking.”
Jeniri added that there is no need for Anwar to feel threatened by Rafizi, but rather that the latter should be seen as a partner and an asset to the party.
Leaders come and go
Universiti Malaya academician Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi similarly did not discount the possibility of Rafizi becoming the PKR president in the future, saying his rise will depend on how he handles the pressure and challenges ahead.
“Leaders come and go. Only the party remains an institution. I think Anwar knows this too. Whether he will relinquish his position now is out of the question. But this can change after the general election,” he said.
Like Jeniri, Azman believes that if Rafizi is to have a shot at being president, it is vital for him to act based on consensus, which has long been core to both PKR and PH’s survival.
He cited how Anwar, despite his influence, had on several occasions backed down from implementing certain policies and actions after taking into account the differences in opinion within the coalition.
Azman added that while Rafizi should be given ample opportunity by PKR members to deliver on his campaign promises of making the party the people’s choice again, the pressure is now on him to “walk the talk”.
“I would like to see how far he is able to do what he promised during campaigning, because to talk without being in position and to act while you are in the leadership is different.” – The Vibes, June 1, 2022
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