Rafizi skips Harapan MPs-PM meeting, says already knows content

Summary

• Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli is skipping Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's closed-door meeting with Pakatan Harapan MPs at Seri Perdana today, stating he is already familiar with the explanation Anwar will provide, from previous briefings months ago.

• He said he prefers to let other government backbenchers attend and assess the information quickly.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli will not be attending Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's meeting with Pakatan Harapan MPs at Seri Perdana today, citing familiarity with the explanation Anwar will be providing.

The former PKR deputy president told Malaysiakini he would rather have other government backbenchers attend and listen to the explanation to "assess them quickly."

"No, I'm not (going). I was privy to the explanation in the past few months, so I would imagine that the prime minister would explain the same thing. I can understand, because before this, the issue did not hit the national temperature, and the explanation was limited to just a few of us.

"I think that is the reason the prime minister prefers to hold a closed door meeting with the MPs, rather than addressing it publicly, because he feels there is some sensitive information that I was privy to in previous months, way back before I resigned.

"I'd rather give the opportunity to other MPs who have not heard it, and I hope that each MP assesses the information quickly," Rafizi said.

He added that he was unaware whether the eight MPs who had called alongside him for the formation of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) and for the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on institutional reforms to investigate alleged judicial interference would be attending.

The petition Rafizi launched via his social media platforms last Friday aims to demonstrate public support for an independent judiciary with integrity, whilst rallying public pressure to protect the separation of powers and the rule of law.

Rafizi and the eight others had called for the RCI to probe claims that the government ignored Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) recommendations before Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s retirement as chief justice, including nominations for chief justice and Court of Appeal president.

Meeting on current affairs

On July 11, Anwar reportedly held a meeting with BN MPs at his official residence in Seri Perdana Complex.

The meeting was believed to have been focused on current issues, including matters related to the upcoming parliamentary sitting, Bernama reported.

A day after, BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir said that the meeting was to discuss government policies and clarify current issues.

He said such meetings are held regularly as BN is a component of the coalition government.

“As part of the coalition government, BN frequently holds discussions, including regular sessions with top leaders not only from BN but also from other coalition partners.

“These meetings allow for the exchange of views and for the prime minister to provide updates on government policies and related matters,” Bernama reported the higher education minister as saying.

On the heels of Bar march

The meeting with Harapan MPs is being held fresh after the Malaysian Bar's march demanding judicial independence, which saw participation from approximately 400 people, made up of lawyers and several opposition politicians.

Seven representatives from the Malaysian Bar, led by its president Ezri Abdul Wahab, handed over their memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister’s Office, after marching from the Palace of Justice.

Anwar's daughter, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah, also turned up and joined the walk with the lawyers.

In a statement, she said concerns about interference in the judiciary have been strengthened by the leaked police report that a judge's aide lodged, as well as the leak of purported JAC minutes.

The Malaysian Bar is also scheduled to hold an extraordinary general meeting on July 26 to discuss related matters.

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