Rafizi brushes off claims Anwar's blessing needed to contest

Former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli has brushed off speculations that he needed the "blessings" of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail before deciding to contest for the deputy president's post in the upcoming party polls.

Speaking to reporters after revealing his running mates during a function at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Rafizi said the issue of seeking the couple's blessings to contest has never arisen.

"Your (journalist) question is like trying to put words into my mouth, whether I have received their blessings or otherwise.

"It (contesting) is a democratic process. Whoever wants to contest, they can do so," he said when directly asked whether he had obtained the blessings of Anwar and Wan Azizah before announcing his plans to run as deputy president.

The PKR election will commence on Aug 24 over nine weeks with the results expected to be announced in November. 

Commenting further, Rafizi said the issue of whether he needed to seek the couple's blessings was only played up by those outside the party.

"The question of whether I received their blessings or not is speculation made outside the party.

"If I said yes, then there are those outside the party who will say that I am 'using' Anwar's blessing (as a reason to contest).

"But if I say no, they will say I'm contesting without Anwar's blessings. Whereas in PKR whoever wants to contest are allowed to do so," he stressed.

While observers had predicted that the upcoming PKR polls will see Rafizi facing off against incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali, the latter has yet to confirm whether he would be defending his position.

On the campaign trail for PKR's Sungai Kandis by-election candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, Wan Azizah earlier today reiterated that "her camp" was the only camp in the party. 

Asked to comment about Rafizi's decision to challenge Azmin, Wan Azizah said she supports all contenders and that competition is healthy for the party. -Mkini