YOURSAY | 'The longer Anwar allows these two to display their immaturity, the weaker his political image gets.'
Azmin vs. Rafizi: Round 1 goes to incumbent
Roger 5201: Columnist Nathaniel Tan is presumptuous when he thinks more of the average Malaysiakini readers like Rafizi Ramli than they do not, and might vote for him over Mohamed Azmin Ali for PKR deputy president. Rafizi, for all his deeds, needs to understand PKR is in a coalition, and party elections are not won by exposing your opponent's dirty secrets.
Azmin has proven his loyalty to PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim and more importantly, the party, as a veteran with plenty of battle scars to show. He has demonstrated restraint and resilience where required, and that makes him a better leader.
Unspin: If we were to compare the comments of Malaysiakini's readers, say, when Azmin was courting PAS before the 14th general election, and Rafizi making his "bulldozing" remark after GE14, I would say the negative comments about both were about even. But considering that Rafizi's blunders were more recent, I would wager that more Malaysiakini readers would prefer Azmin at this point in time.
I personally would vote for Azmin because he is more mature, measured and cool-headed. For instance, if Rafizi were to be the finance minister, can you imagine him going to China to negotiate the sensitive East Coast Rail Link or oil pipeline projects?
He could almost literally be a bull in the China shop.
Andysee: As the author mentioned, Azmin is a minister and the incumbent deputy president of the party. He has way more resources than Rafizi has at his disposal. But, he is barely ahead of the race now. Rafizi is clearly making a lot of progress and his momentum is growing.
If Rafizi's supporters continue backing him and the momentum continues strongly, he stands a real chance of winning the election.
The more you look at the situation, the more it seems as if the rumours about Azmin and Mahathir working together to betray Anwar seem realistic. We must be worried about Azmin, who seems to be working in the shadows and behind PKR and the rakyat's backs, purportedly to work out a deal for himself to be the next prime minister.
Azmin, we are watching you.
Anonymous_07df3758: To all Azmin detractors, including the writer of this article, I say, show us concrete evidence that he has used his influence negatively, instead of merely making constant insinuations against him.
Azmin is a mature and measured politician. In 20 years, he has never once played the race and religion card, no matter what the circumstances.
Judging from the many comments in Malaysiakini that are against Rafizi, especially in the past few months, the writer is wrong to assume that we educated classes are automatically pro-Rafizi.
His NGO Invoke made a massive error with their GE14 predictions on PAS and the east coast.
Anonymous_c97f73f1: Tan, your argument is flawed. So far, Azmin has demonstrated himself as a mature politician compared to Rafizi. If you were to gather all the comments online, I think most readers are disgusted with Rafizi.
There is nothing great about his Invoke, which got its forecast all wrong when he bragged that Pakatan Harapan would take over the east coast states from PAS. Instead of helping unity in PKR, he is dividing the party.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad could probably read his character well, and therefore did not give him any positions in his cabinet, unlike defeated Ayer Hitam candidate Liew Chin Tong, who was made a deputy minister.
Anonymous_1419577444: The party election system in PKR is so deeply flawed that it can be a global case study of how to steal an election.
Membership of PKR has more than doubled since May 2018. Some branches have recruited 'thousands' of members. Any member who is two months old can vote and stand for elections. This alone is a major alarm bell!
The e-voting system lacks transparency, audit trail and is subject to manipulation, even at the programming stage.
A voting period stretching over one month allows for continuous campaigning and more sinister still, manipulation of the e-voting system.
We have not talked about the personalities involved in PKR yet; which all the more does not provide any confidence to Malaysians that the PKR election is a genuine party election, regardless of the outcome.
I would, however, sit back with popcorn and watch the fight between Azmin and Rafizi. It will be a laughing stock if Anwar fails, even after all the advantages highlighted above, to get his favourite boy 'elected'.
Ultimately: Tan asks how long Anwar Ibrahim would be prime minister. I would say, two terms. That is what Harapan promised, and what Harapan should do. Change the constitution to stipulate this, and all the politicking for the premiership may end, as everyone knows they'll have a shot at it every 10 years, maybe five, instead of the current uncertain infinity.
Anonymous_1537370890: The country now needs shrewd politicians, and Azmin has the qualities. Rafizi is behaving like a small spoilt brat. Grow up, Rafizi. His onslaught (some being seen as sensitive) against Azmin was appalling, to say the least.
And I dread to imagine if he becomes the deputy president and No 2 to Anwar.
Lucas: There are characteristics of the two deputy president candidates to like and dislike – can they both coexist and get along for the greater good?
Uragt: The longer Anwar allows these two to display their immaturity and greed for power, the weaker his political image gets. He's not even elected to Parliament yet, and has not shown any capabilities in helping his constituents.
But he has shown his inability to manage his own party.
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