Me as minister? PM will decide at right time - Ramanan

Summary

• PKR vice-president R Ramanan calls for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not to be pressured over ministerial appointments, and that Anwar should be allowed to decide at the right time.

• Ramanan, who is the deputy minister of entrepreneur and cooperatives development, was commenting on purported suggestions that he should be elevated to be a minister.

• Ex-PKR No 2 Rafizi Ramli previously criticised Ramanan’s rise in PKR, questioning how the former MIC treasurer could become deputy minister four years after joining the party.

PKR vice-president R Ramanan has called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not to be pressured over ministerial appointments, following purported suggestions he should be a minister after his recent PKR election victory.

Harian Metro reported the entrepreneur and cooperatives development deputy minister saying he is not concerned about his cabinet position, as he only intends to serve the people.

“The prime minister will make a decision at the appropriate time. We need to give him space and not put pressure on him.

“Anwar is doing his best for the country,” Ramanan reportedly said after the Prosperity, Empowerment, and A New Normal for Indian Women 2.0 event in Kuala Lumpur.

It was reported that several parties suggested making Ramanan a minister after he won one of the four PKR vice-president posts in the party’s recent election.

The others elected were Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, as well as Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.

Regarding programmes for Indians, if there is a cabinet reshuffle and he is appointed minister, Ramanan said such initiatives were needed for a community that has been left behind.

“Whether I’m a minister or deputy minister, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m still in politics, I will fight for all Malaysians, particularly the Indian community, who are somewhat left behind. We will fight for them.

“Now we can see what benefits these programmes and initiatives bring to the Indian community.

“So whoever sits wherever, if they cancel programmes like this (to help the Indian community), they will face criticism from the (Indian) community. I hope they can withstand it,” he said.

On Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s application to join PKR, Ramanan said the party’s central leadership council would discuss the matter.

“The council will discuss that issue, but all applications are the same, regardless of who they are.

“Even ordinary members go through the same process - there’s a screening procedure. Wait for that time and let the decision be made,” he said.

Rise to fame

Previously, then-PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli had criticised party president Anwar for purportedly allowing Ramanan, a former MIC treasurer, to rise through the party ranks in fewer than four years after joining.

He said newcomers should start from the bottom and work their way up by proving their worth and loyalty.

He also urged party members to end the PKR president’s special power to give an exception for any new party member to contest in the polls despite not meeting the minimum requirements.

“Some party outsiders asked how a former MIC treasurer who resigned only six months prior (could join our party) and in about two years as a member, he was given a safe parliamentary seat to contest.

“Less than a year after that, he gets appointed as a deputy minister. All these happened in fewer than four years after he joined the party,” Rafizi said in a ceramah in Johor, in the run-up to the PKR party election.

Rafizi mooted that any newcomer must be a PKR member for at least five years before being allowed to run for any party position.

This, he suggested, was to prevent the party from being infiltrated by outsiders who try to buy their way in using their wealth and influence.

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