Boycotting congress could tarnish Rafizi’s career, analysts say

 Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya and Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia brand Rafizi Ramli’s decision as childish.

Rafizi Ramli said he will not officiate the PKR Youth and Wanita congress, traditionally opened by the deputy president, citing principles over politics. (PKR pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli’s decision to skip the party’s upcoming Youth and Wanita congress could tarnish his political career, two analysts say.

Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya and Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia also described Rafizi’s decision as childish.

Rafizi has insisted he would give the Youth and Wanita assemblies, traditionally opened by the deputy president, a miss, citing principles over politics.

He said his refusal stemmed from a breach of party protocol after the Sabah PKR election machinery launch was allegedly announced without prior discussion by the party’s political bureau or central leadership council.

Tawfik said Rafizi should be the bigger person. “He needs to remember that he is still the incumbent deputy president and, therefore, should carry out his responsibilities,” he told FMT.

Mazlan felt that Rafizi, as the party’s number two, should be cordial with all members.

“By skipping the congress, it gives the impression that he is unfriendly. And this will rub the members in the Youth and Wanita wings the wrong way,” he said.

However, Azmi Hassan, a fellow at the National Council of Professors, disagreed with the notion that Rafizi is being childish, and did not believe that he was “sulking”.

Azmi said the decision by Rafizi, who has been critical of the party and some of its members while on the campaign trail, could also prevent any awkward situations, like being booed on stage.

“Not many of the wings’ members are backing him,” he said, alluding to the outcome of last month’s division elections, which saw several of Rafizi’s key allies losing out.

Rafizi’s trust issues with PKR

Tawfik also commented on Rafizi’s claim that the contest for the deputy presidency, which will see him in a straight fight with Nurul Izzah Anwar, was seemingly fixed in Nurul Izzah’s favour.

“Such comments give the impression that Rafizi has misgivings about the party’s electoral system,” he said.

Rafizi had made such a claim when labelling his decision to defend his post a “kamikaze” act in view of his chances against Nurul Izzah, who is the daughter of party president Anwar Ibrahim.

He had alleged that the open endorsements for Nurul Izzah by party leaders were aimed at weakening him so that he would eventually pull out of the race. - FMT