Rafizi urged to reconsider snub to officiate PKR Youth, Women's congress

Summary

• PKR Youth urges Rafizi to stick to party traditions and officiate the PKR Youth and Women’s National Congress, after the deputy president declined.

• Rafizi’s reported decision is said to be linked to growing tensions within the party, including strong support for rival Nurul Izzah and allegations of an uneven playing field in the upcoming PKR polls.

PKR Youth has asked the party’s incumbent deputy president Rafizi Ramli to reconsider his initial decision not to officiate the opening ceremony for the national congress of PKR’s youth and women’s wings on May 22.

Confirming that PKR Youth had received a copy of Rafizi’s letter to Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim declining an invitation to officiate the wings' congress, incumbent PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim said the wing is appealing for Rafizi to change his mind.

“At this time, I can confirm that we have received a copy of (Rafizi’s) letter to the PKR president, in which he expressed his intention not to officiate the PKR Youth and Women’s National Congress, despite having agreed to it earlier.

“However, we are trying to secure his agreement again, in line with his position as the party’s deputy president. His presence as the officiator would uphold the congress’ tradition,” Adam told Malaysiakini.

PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh also spoke to Malaysiakini, saying that it has “not yet been confirmed” whether or not Rafizi will officiate the event.

Yesterday, Malaysia Gazette reported that Rafizi had sent a letter to Anwar informing the latter of his stance against fulfilling the party wings’ invitation for him to officiate their congress.

The move is said to be linked with growing support for Rafizi’s sole opponent for the PKR deputy presidency, Nurul Izzah Anwar, and with Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who is hoping to maintain his position as the party’s vice-president.

It was also reported that Rafizi’s apparent snub of the invite is connected with Sabah PKR opting not to invite him to its election machinery launch in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

At least 21 out of the 25 PKR branches in the state are said to support Nurul Izzah and Amirudin, with some members allegedly taking issue with Rafizi’s “unprofessional” attitude in the run-up to the party’s election on May 23.

Unhelpful play

A source told Scoop today that Rafizi distancing himself from the party’s wings reflects his “unhappiness” with the election process, which the Pandan MP believes is “skewed” towards Nurul Izzah.

“Snubbing the PKR Youth and Women’s Congress won’t help him gain support or sympathy. He’s just playing into the narrative that he is not a team player,” the source was quoted as saying.

Last night, Rafizi claimed that the contest for the PKR number two post between him and Nurul Izzah is taking place on an uneven playing field, asserting that the election is being orchestrated in favour of the prime minister’s daughter as the PKR machinery has been mobilised to support her.

Noting that his decision to contest this time around is a “do-or-die” move, which he is aware could result in him losing, he alleged that PKR leaders’ previous open endorsements of Nurul Izzah were intended to weaken his position and pressure him into withdrawing from the race.

However, Rafizi stressed that he will not hand his opponent an uncontested victory.

Previously, Rafizi expressed his willingness to resign as the economy minister and serve as a backbencher MP if he fails to defend his post in the PKR election next week.

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