‘Nationalising’ of internal troubles repulsive to fence-sitters, PKR warned

 Analyst says Rafizi Ramli’s campaign has been particularly damaging, with political finesse and humility considered crucial attributes in Malaysian politics.

Incumbent Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar are vying for the deputy president’s post at PKR’s triennial election, scheduled to be held this Friday, May 23.

PETALING JAYA:

 PKR must prevent its internal disputes from escalating into a national spectacle to avoid alienating fence-sitters ahead of the next general election (GE16), warns an analyst.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said the party had even managed to drag one of its close allies into their squabbles, citing DAP MP Wong Shu Qi’s criticism of PKR’s Wong Chen for linking her party to money politics.

Despite PKR president Anwar Ibrahim being the prime minister, Fauzi told FMT the party needs to be more realistic about its actual strength and support, given it holds 31 parliamentary seats, compared to DAP (40) and PAS (43).

“Among the majority Malay-Muslims, support for PKR has never hovered above 30%, as admitted by its deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

“PKR’s behaviour of nationalising its troubles for public consumption is repulsive, especially for unity-loving Malays.

“It’s not as if we are facing a national election between two potential deputy prime ministers,” he said, pointing out that the outcome of the PKR deputy presidency contest would have no impact on the national leadership.

Much of the attention in PKR’s elections is on the race for the deputy presidency, which is being contested by Rafizi, the incumbent, and Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, a former MP for Permatang Pauh (2018 to 2022) and Lembah Pantai (2008 to 2018).

Nurul Izzah’s campaign has remained relatively muted, but more than 200 PKR divisions have announced their support for her, including the party’s Hang Tuah Jaya division now led by Anwar’s senior political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Akin.

Rafizi, on the other hand, has been particularly outspoken in his campaign events, training his guns on various PKR leaders and candidates, and attracting criticism as a result.

Rafizi, the economy minister and Pandan MP, has also broken party tradition by declining to officiate at the party’s youth and women’s wings congresses, a role customarily fulfilled by the deputy president.

Fauzi warned that parties like PAS would seek to exploit PKR’s internal discord and its struggle to muster Malay support ahead of GE16.

The political analyst said Rafizi’s campaign was particularly damaging for the party, describing the Malay community as one that upholds virtues such as forgiveness and does not demean enemies.

“In Rafizi’s case, he has looked down upon (PAS election director) Sanusi Nor to the extent of questioning his tertiary qualification, which was legally obtained from USM.”

He described Rafizi’s actions as “ignorant”, leading to the “wrongful vilification” of a political rival, and said the remarks were uncalled for. “However you dislike your adversary, you shouldn’t degrade any achievements they have accomplished.”

While Rafizi’s strength lay in facts and figures, Fauzi said political finesse, humility and a polished character were crucial attributes in Malay and Malaysian politics.

“That’s why even in PKR, many youngsters are unsurprisingly drawn to Nurul Izzah’s side. Policy debates can come at the national level, when PH is fighting against Perikatan Nasional, for example.

“But when it involves party colleagues, why should the whole nation be dragged into a debate with potentially fractious implications for PKR?” - FMT