PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli today said that the public can't expect the opposition party to do things differently from Umno but yet operate politically in the same vein.

 

In justifying the ‘Kajang move’ by his party, for which he was among the main strategists, Rafizi argued that the party needs its leader Anwar Ibrahim ( left ) to be a part of the state government in order to give "political legitimacy" for Anwar to speak on Selangor issues.

 

"We don't operate like Umno. We don't interfere in state government affairs. We cannot tell Khalid (Ibrahim, Selangor Menteri Besar) what to do. We cannot instruct him unless we are on the ground and part of it (state government)," Rafizi said during a press conference at PKR headquarters.

He said that the party must not underestimate Umno's ability to ramp up racial tensions in Selangor and thus Anwar's political leadership is necessary to fend off its attacks.

He cited the 1977 incident with the PAS-led Kelantan state government as an example, where BN invoked emergency powers to take control of the state.

“As a result, PAS split into two - PAS and Berjasa. PAS was only left with two state seats after that,” Rafizi warned.

He said that the party opted for the Kajang state seat because it was more multiracial, while saying that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali did offer his Bukit Antarabangsa state seat instead.

“Azmin did offer. But his constituency is filled with over 70 percent Malay voters. We wanted a multiracial seat for Anwar to contest, so we opted for Kajang,” Rafizi said.

“After all, we are doing this so that can preserve multiracial Malaysia,” he added.

The Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce tomorrow the nomination and polling dates for the Kajang by-election.

BN has yet to announce its candidate for the constituency to square up against Anwar for the Kajang state seat.