I'm ready to face GE15 as PN candidate - Afif

INTERVIEW | Fresh from being sacked by PKR, Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin's political future may hinge on the next 15th general election.

The 35-year-old said he is ready to stand as a Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate if given the chance to do so.

“I am prepared to contest as a PN candidate,” Afif said in a recent interview with Malaysiakini that was held at Mona Publika in Kuala Lumpur.

The former PKR Youth leader also maintained that his belief remains rooted in the concept of multiracial politics, despite a recent move to join Bersatu after a brief stint as an Independent state assemblyperson in the Penang state assembly.

“The principle that I held when I first joined Keadilan is still the same.

“That is why I founded Pemuda Negara as a platform to progress the idea that we need multiracial politics for Malaysia to move forward,” he said.

Of his move to join Bersatu, one of three Malay-Muslim based parties in PN, Afif insisted that he saw no contradiction with his personal convictions.

“I don’t see the contradiction because, as a leader, although I am a Malay-Muslim, as a Malaysian I must understand that the fabric of Malaysian society is multiracial and each race would have their different needs.

“For example, if I, as a Malay-Muslim leader, fail to understand problems faced by the Chinese, I will not function well because my decisions do not take into account the interests of all,” he said, adding that the same argument applies to Chinese politicians who fail to understand the ways of the majority.

Pemuda Negara was set up in May as PKR moved to rid its leaders and members who were linked to the Sheraton Move. Afif, however, insisted that it would remain a neutral platform and be particularly targeted at youth who subscribe to its vision and ideas.

“Pemuda Negara is not a political party, so I cannot say that we will have candidates in the general election.

“If I say I agree to be fielded by PN, if given a chance, I cannot say that I am a Pemuda Negara candidate,” Afif said, pointing out that a final decision lies in the hands of PN’s top leaders.

“Even if PKR gave me an opportunity, I could consider it,” he said, although repeatedly stressing that positions and power should not be the primary motivation for politicians, old or new.

As a two-term assemblyperson, first with Pakatan Rakyat in 2013 and later with Harapan, Afif expressed confidence in his own track record, including now serving his constituents for the first time as an opposition representative.

“Let the public decide. As the rakyat, we have to continue questioning our elected representatives, (ask them to) show their track record.

“You want to assess me? Assess my track record. So will I offer myself? If given the chance, definitely, I will offer myself.

“That is why, when I set up Pemuda Negara, I wanted to invite as many youths as possible. We want more good people in politics,” he stressed.

Afif (photo) further said he would have remained a PKR member had he not been sacked, a move which he maintained was unfair as it allegedly did not follow the due process.

“Assuming I was not sacked, my message would remain the same. We have to think as a party, not only of the interests of one or two individuals.

“I have to think that now I am 35, in twenty years from now I will be 55. Do I want to think about things that could happen in one month, two months, six months? Or do I want to think about the future?” he said, noting that his sentiments were not well received by certain quarters within PKR.

“I would just stay on, because for me if PKR accepts differences of opinions, then I could have continued to speak up. The fact that I was sacked without any due process, I leave it to the public to decide.

“We talked about transparency, we talked about due process, we talked about justice, it is not only about talking but we have to reflect that in our actions,” he added.

Looking back at his time with PKR, Afif expressed regret that he had failed to “unite” its two leaders, party president Anwar Ibrahim and then deputy president Azmin Ali (right in photo), who sparked a defection of PKR MPs and members after his move to support the formation of the PN government.

He also attributed failure by party leaders to reconcile its internal differences as what had led to PKR’s problems today.

Aside from Pemuda Negara, former PKR leaders and members linked to Azmin have been moving through NGO platforms, Penggerak Komuniti Negara and Nation of Women (NOW), fuelling speculations that their nationwide reach is building the foundation for a new political party.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua, who is also linked to Azmin, yesterday launched his own NGO, called Daya, but dismissed the idea of an NGO collaboration to form a political party for GE15 as being "too far fetched".

PART 2 - Afif: Arrogance could lead to PN's downfall like it did to Harapan, BN

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