Rafizi, Khairy and Azmin: PM candidates to reset Malaysia?

 These three have what it takes, whether you like them or not.

In this article, I aim to project slightly into the future, but no more than 10 years, and to dream and imagine a different path forward.

If we, Malaysians, do not dare to dream, we will remain trapped in the “old Malaysia”, shaped by figures like Bersatu’s Hamzah Zainudin, Umno’s Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and PAS’s Abdul Hadi Awang.

Or worse, we may find ourselves in a “young but old Malaysia”, led by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari of PAS, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, and Bersatu’s Wan Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

So, what will it be? Do we embrace a new Malaysia, revert to the old, or settle for a younger version of the same entrenched system?

I choose the new Malaysia. And I have my candidates—leaders with qualities that I believe make them strong contenders for the nation’s top position.

Rafizi Ramli: uncontroversial

Rafizi Ramli stands out as a natural starting point—an uncontroversial choice for most Malaysians.

Highly educated, deeply motivated and a visionary, Rafizi is also a capable strategist, particularly when it comes to election campaigns. He does not only possess tactical prowess, but also the courage to challenge the establishment.

His lack of interest in seeking high office merely for personal ambition or gain makes him, for me, a frontrunner in the leadership pool.

Sure, he can be brash, but time and again, Rafizi has demonstrated integrity, commitment, and a remarkable ability to deliver on his predictions.

Most importantly, he remains untainted by corruption or treachery.

If he contests the PKR presidency in a post-Anwar era, he would likely win, placing him on a clear path to becoming a prime ministerial candidate.

Should that fail, he could always form a new party. Many would likely defect from PKR and other parties to support him. He may even be the leader Muda is craving for. Anything is possible.

Khairy Jamaluddin: a calculated ally

Now, what about Khairy Jamaluddin?

While he has never been my preferred politician due to his Umno ties, I’ve come to recognise that politics often requires working alongside those we might consider adversaries—just as Dr Mahathir Mohamad once did.

Even enemies can become allies if the situation can be manipulated wisely.

Khairy is undeniably experienced, a visionary, and possesses leadership qualities few would dispute. His role in securing medical assistance for Anwar Ibrahim when he was incarcerated left a lasting impression on me, and I’m willing to overlook his minor missteps in Umno because of that.

The real question is: how will Khairy, now expelled, rise to a top party position if his plan is simply to return to Umno?

Umno has a long queue of successors awaiting their turn if Zahid steps down, and I see no realistic scenario where Khairy is handed the deputy presidency on a silver platter.

Even if he were to join PAS or Bersatu, neither party is likely to roll out the red carpet for him

His best bet? Establishing a small yet effective political party, leading it, and forming a strategic coalition with smaller parties and Sabah-Sarawak-based factions.

If this coalition secures at least 50 parliamentary seats, Khairy could position himself as prime minister within another unity government. After all, the era of dominant, single-party coalitions is over. The future belongs to multi-party governance.

Azmin Ali: political operator

What about Azmin Ali?

Most Malaysians view Azmin as a political schemer—and he is reviled by many for his betrayals.

Yet, we must acknowledge his role in holding PKR together until Barisan Nasional’s historic defeat in 2018.

He also ascended to the Selangor menteri besar post despite not being the frontrunner, proving his ability to navigate political landscapes effectively.

Having observed Malaysian politics for 25 years, I’ve learned that survival and adaptation define the craft.

Few master this art. Mahathir was, and remains, the ultimate strategist—arguably matched only by Malaysia’s second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein.

Most of us will never possess the ability to orchestrate power shifts as they did.

But how will Azmin secure the prime minister’s office?

At present, Bersatu appears poised to sever ties with its hardline ally in Perikatan Nasional as PAS presents a clear and present threat to Malaysia’s long-term stability.

I believe Bersatu could align with Sabah and Sarawak-based parties, along with several Peninsular factions, to form a third force—one capable of challenging both PH-BN and PAS.

Azmin is unlikely to return to PKR, as there’s already another dominant force there.

Thus, these three men are the most probable future prime ministers we must choose from—unless we resign ourselves to the same familiar faces for another 60 years.

What about Nurul Izzah?

Nurul Izzah Anwar remains a possibility, though my crystal ball is unclear about her prospects.

In any case, a coalition led by the three men mentioned above seems a more realistic scenario at this point. -FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.