RAFIZI Ramli’s success in securing PKR’s number two post has led many observers to believe that he is tipped to be the new face of the reformist outfit.
In terms of PKR’s succession planning, this may seem to be the case, but treating Rafizi’s success in the party polls as a sign of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s dwindling influence would be a colossal mistake.
To be fair, the pundits’ assessments were not exactly off the mark. Rafizi, the former Pandan MP, did in fact stage a stunning comeback to active politics by defeating party stalwart Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail with a 19,000-vote majority.
In the lead-up to the polls, which kicked off in mid-May, PKR was seemingly divided into two camps favouring Rafizi or Saifuddin, with the latter being seen as more closely aligned with Anwar.
And while observers believe Rafizi’s win heralded a new dawn for PKR, Anwar’s sway over the outfit he founded remains inviolable for the simple fact that his presidency was not challenged in the first place.
Rafizi had been asked why not go after the presidency – a question he had not satisfactorily answered.
“Even Rafizi knows that Anwar is still needed to navigate PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH) through these unstable and trying political times,” said a senior party leader.
He who did not want to be named said it is time for the party to close ranks, adhering to Anwar’s advice for friendly competition and for everyone to come together after the party polls for the real battle – GE15.
Nevertheless, while campaigning, both Rafizi and Saifuddin locked horns over the party’s direction for the so-called “big-tent” approach, which some party members and analysts said led to Saifuddin ultimately conceding in the race.
Rafizi has held a reputation for his combative nature, while Saifuddin and Anwar, being the more experienced politicians, preferred using conciliatory strategies.
And although Rafizi has gained much notoriety for exposing massive scandals, such as the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), and lately Sapura Energy Bhd, his firebrand and uncompromising approach to politics may not necessarily spell good relations for PKR and its PH allies.
“Rafizi may be seen as the one in recent memory who has been exposing scandals but let us not forget it was Anwar who belled the cat on corruption in Umno and as finance minister resisted bailouts in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration.
“This eventually cost him his job, the premiership, and ultimately his freedom,” said the senior leader.
As mentioned by Saifuddin in a recent interview with The Vibes, Rafizi is not known for being on talking terms with several top leaders from other PH parties.
In contrast, Anwar has been praised for his charisma, as mentioned by the daughter of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who called him a “sweet talker” and a “sweet person” recently.
Politicians from both sides of the divide, including BN and Umno, have also agreed that no single party in Malaysia can win the upcoming election without the help of other parties.
Furthermore, the exposure of national multi-billion ringgit scandals alone did not make up the full mark of good governance, as running a country certainly takes more than that.
Regardless, members of the two apparent camps, and even observers, would agree that Rafizi provides a breath of fresh air for PKR. The party’s incoming number two, who is data-driven, would complement Anwar’s leadership as an invaluable asset going into GE15.
Perhaps this is largely due to Rafizi’s youthful and urban appeal, and his technocratic outlook, while Anwar – being a political maverick – can appeal to the Malay rural heartland.
Even political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute, not necessarily a fan of Anwar, had said that the results of PKR’s election did not mean that its members lost faith in Anwar.
Instead, the results saw Rafizi’s “team” comprising the likes of Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar taking two of the four elected vice-president posts. This might be due to a desire by grassroots members seeking radical transformation for the party in facing GE15.
Prior to the polls, Nik Nazmi told The Vibes that Rafizi and Anwar would make “a good combination”.
“With Anwar being the more experienced politician with time in government, he has contributed immensely, not only to opposition politics but to multiracial politics in the country.
“Anwar is 75 (years old) and Rafizi is 45. So, Anwar is more of a diplomat (in PKR), and Rafizi is the frank, outspoken guy.”
Nik Nazmi – despite his allegiance to Rafizi – also reiterated his support for Anwar, while denying the existence of a “proxy battle” between the president’s loyalists and other camps.
The party polls results, while showing Rafizi winning in rural states including Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu do not necessarily mean that Rafizi’s appeal goes beyond the urban liberal elite.
Based on the PKR election data, only 13.7% of the 1,118,423 eligible voters cast their ballots.
This could mean a myriad of things – members being fatigued with elections and polls; members having bigger issues to worry about such as the economy and high cost of living – or that with Anwar remaining president, there is still stability in the party with continuity in its struggles.
In the meantime, negotiations with other parties will continue gingerly. Rafizi may come across as uncompromising but Anwar, too, has been consistent – no deals with Umno’s court cluster, no dumping DAP and no working with a Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang-led PAS that has exploited and sullied Islam.
Even PH coalition partners are more comfortable dealing with Anwar – one reason being they have been working with him and used him as a symbol of their own struggles for the last 24 years.
It was the same symbol and promise that helped win the 2018 general election.
Moving forward for PKR, it would be advisable for the party to cease wallowing in the outcome of the party polls and come together immediately to take advantage of a Barisan Nasional that is imploding from within in time for the general election. – The Vibes, June 3, 2022
A. Azim Idris is a journalist at The Vibes
