'I'm not two-faced': Rafizi accuses Izzah of siding with money politics groups

Summary

• Rafizi accuses Nurul Izzah Anwar of hypocrisy, alleging that despite expressing concerns over certain PKR factions known for money politics, she aligned herself with them to win PKR polls.

• Incumbent deputy president defends his consistent stance against such factions that he believes are undermining the party’s reformist values.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has criticised his challenger, Nurul Izzah Anwar, accusing her of contradicting herself by allegedly working with money politics groups she claims to oppose within the party.

In a statement, Rafizi claimed that Nurul Izzah had approached him with concerns about problematic factions within PKR's emerging leadership, only to then align herself with them to secure victory in the deputy president race.

According to Rafizi, during a meeting with him on May 20, Nurul Izzah expressed deep concerns about the new leadership line-up, citing worries about their intentions, records, political practices and their impact on the party.

“I am not good at being two-faced. I am known inside and outside the party that I am not comfortable with several groups, which in my view, do not represent the political reform brought by PKR,” he said.

Rafizi claimed these groups’ practices “largely revolve around money and their eagerness to obtain positions,” directly contradicting the party’s reform promises.

He revealed that his consistent rejection of these factions has earned him accusations of being egotistical, with these groups systematically working to reject candidates who don't share their approach during polls.

“Finally, after these groups are believed to be lining up the new PKR leadership, I am also the one being appealed to fight them within the party,” he said.

“If Nurul Izzah is worried about their practices, she should not have colluded with them to win the deputy president position.

“God willing, that responsibility becomes her responsibility after this. Allah and the people will judge us, beyond our reform shouts in the campaign,” he added.

The incumbent deputy president said he had best “to pass this first test of power,” suggesting the leadership contest represents a crucial examination of his political principles.

Rafizi also revealed that he rejected Nurul Izzah’s appeal for his help after the election.

“In the meeting, Nurul Izzah once again asked me to help her after the election. There was an impression that she was offering me a position. I stated at the beginning of the meeting that I was not interested and would respect the election results,” added Rafizi.

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