Analysts never predicted Anwar would become PM - Rafizi

PKR CONGRESS | PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli told party members today not to be perturbed by condescending expert analyses on the party.

In his speech at the PKR National Congress 2023, Rafizi said analysts and academicians have always looked down on the party and its president Anwar Ibrahim.

In the past, political experts had regarded PKR as an underdog and the weakest link in its previous cooperations, said Rafizi, who pointed out that some had also predicted the party's demise.

"That is why, ladies and gentlemen, when you read analyses by all these experts from outside, have you ever come across them saying that one day Anwar will become prime minister?

"They never predicted this. That is why, in the years we spent in this party, it has been our discipline to listen to these analyses, we will filter them, but we never expect them to sing praises.

"Because we have never been praised by them," Rafizi said in his winding-up speech.

The economy minister was responding to a recent Merdeka Centre survey which claimed that Anwar and his coalition government's approval rating was sliding mostly due to economic concerns.

According to Rafizi, never once have these analysts admitted that they had erred in their analyses.

He told the party members to remain steadfast with PKR, which Rafizi said will continue recording success despite all the criticisms against them.

"But if you want to be hailed with praise, then you should join Bersatu.

"Or, maybe you can join PAS which acts like it is the most popular party but has never once got to be the prime minister."

Selective data

In his speech, Rafizi also took a swipe at political analysts who allegedly shared selective data that is only favourable to the opposition.

As an example, he pointed to the issue of the ringgit declining against the US dollar and Singaporean dollar.

While it is true that the ringgit had been declining against the two currencies, Rafizi said, government critics failed to share that the ringgit had become stronger against other currencies such as the Japanese yen, British pound sterling, Korean won, Euro, Australian dollar, and China renminbi.

"Our ringgit only weakened against USD and SGD. But they didn't mention all the others that we have grown stronger against.

"These intelligent people should tell everything, not only the stuff that the 'walaun' wants to hear," he said, using a slur referring to Perikatan Nasional supporters.

The Pandan MP added that this was why he would take analysis not backed with facts and data with a pinch of salt.

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