Rafizi takes jab at 'confused' Ramanan, says stuck in MIC mode

Summary

• PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli responds with sarcasm to R Ramanan’s remarks about leaders being inaccessible.

• He points out that as a reformist party, PKR - unlike MIC - lacks the financial resources to cater to grassroots needs.

Rafizi Ramli delivered a sarcastic response to PKR deputy information chief R Ramanan, who claimed that there is growing disappointment among grassroots members as certain top leaders have become “inaccessible” after attaining power.

Rafizi acknowledged that he does not cater to grassroots members, explaining that as a reformist party, PKR lacks the financial resources to do so.

The incumbent deputy president, who will be facing Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter Nurul Izzah in the party polls, said he could not blame Ramanan because he is still new to PKR, having joined in 2020.

“I can’t blame him; maybe he’s confused by the culture of his old party (MIC) and our party.

“Taking care of the grassroots, like Ramanan said, is money politics. I don’t manage the party like that. If I wanted to do that (give money, distribute hampers), I’d join another party.

“Ramanan hasn’t experienced all this (reform and demonstrations)... of course, when he wins (becomes part of the government), he may honestly embrace that culture, but because of this, I (am considered) the deputy president who isn’t good,” said Rafizi in a live broadcast of “Yang Bakar Menteri” podcast last night.

‘Hundreds of thousands spent on scarves’

Rafizi said that the practice of taking care of the grassroots by giving money deviates from PKR’s original values.

“Our culture in PKR is different; we go down to strengthen our friends so they are respected in their parliamentary areas, we can’t give out money because the party doesn’t have money,” he added.

Rafizi claimed that some candidates running for the position of women’s chief in PKR had spent hundreds of thousands of ringgit on purchasing scarves, which were believed to be distributed to delegates.

Ramanan had raised the case of elusive leaders after attending a PKR grassroots meeting on Friday.

Without mentioning names, he had said that these leaders, who were always available in the past, have become incommunicado since attaining positions.

“But after becoming top leaders, getting a driver, bodyguards, a house, a car, aides, and officers, it is hard to reach them. This has caused many members to be disappointed.

“That is why I say, when you are promoted, you must remain grounded. Of course, there are differing views on this, but this is the feedback I received from party members,” he added.

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