Anwar defends fielding PKR newbies in GE15, to discuss Rafizi's proposal

Summary

• PKR president Anwar Ibrahim defends approving new newcomer PKR candidates for GE15 despite criticism from Rafizi Ramli.

• Anwar states he approved candidates vetted by party headquarters without filtering.

• Rafizi has proposed that newcomers be PKR members for at least five years before contesting positions.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has defended his decision to approve candidates who were relatively new to the party for the 15th general election, following criticisms from his deputy, Rafizi Ramli.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in the party’s central leadership polls at the Berjaya Waterfront in Johor Bahru today, Anwar said the matter Rafizi raised could be deliberated at the party’s leadership meeting.

“It’s okay, we’ll bring it up in a meeting,” he said when asked to respond to Rafizi’s recent comments on the “Hiruk” campaign trail.

During his campaign, Rafizi aimed at PKR vice-president hopeful R Ramanan, questioning what he viewed as “special treatment” for the former MIC member who was fielded in Sungai Buloh and has quickly risen in party ranks since winning the seat.

Rafizi suggested that newcomers must be members of PKR for at least five years before they are allowed to contest any party position, a move he said would help prevent the party from being infiltrated by outsiders seeking to buy influence with wealth and connections.

‘I approved them all’

Anwar explained that while he had approved certain individuals to be named as candidates, the selection process was carried out by the party’s headquarters.

“My decision that day, actually, I didn’t want to approve (their candidacy), I already mentioned it during a central leadership council meeting.

“If I approved some but rejected others, that would be a problem. So, everything that came to my desk, once the headquarters vetted, whether the person was bankrupt or had misconduct issues, I approved them all. So, there’s no issue.

“I informed the council, if you send it to me, I won’t filter. If I start filtering, that will cause problems.

“So, all applications, as long as they follow party rules and are processed by the headquarters, I’d approve them,” he added.

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