Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has dismissed claims he is “sulky” or difficult, saying such labels come from “jilted lovers” within PKR who resent his refusal to play patronage politics.
He stressed that he speaks his mind even if it means disagreeing with Prime Minister and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, PAS, or Bersatu.
"No, I think the issue of people saying I’m sulking is just a handful of political enemies in the party whom I don’t take seriously," the former PKR deputy president said in an interview with KiniTV’s “Explain Sikit, Kini!” podcast.
Rafizi also made a scathing critique of how members advance within PKR, arguing that the party has become corrupted by money politics and cronyism rather than being driven by genuine public service or democratic principles.
"Because those who want to secure these positions know that they don't even need to be accepted by the people. It doesn't matter if people don't know them.
“Who knew Ramanan before this? It doesn't matter, as long as I have one strong connection with the party president, and I can also pay and keep a few foot soldiers below me so that when the party election comes, I pay, they win, then I suddenly become a party bigwig and I make the decisions.
"That is a sure way to kill this party. And to me, it is the greatest betrayal. That’s why these people are basically jilted lovers.
“Yes, jilted lovers. They didn’t get a place with me because I refused to play that game," Rafizi added.
He was referring to PKR's new vice-president R Ramanan, formerly MIC's treasurer-general, who subsequently joined PKR and rose meteorically through the ranks.
Rafizi had, in the run-up to the PKR party polls and even afterwards, remained a staunch critic of Ramanan, whose credibility he frequently questioned.
Malaysiakini has reached out to Ramanan for his response to Rafizi's allegations.
'Hidden hands' within
Rafizi also alleged that PKR had long been plagued by a culture of “hidden hands”, where some members allowed others to do the public-facing work while they stayed in the background and manoeuvred for positions of power.
He added that such behaviour was against the reason he and his generation had chosen PKR in the first place.
"If you want all these hidden hands, you might as well join Umno or PAS. Then you can kowtow to people. The whole idea of why part of my generation joined politics through PKR was because we felt what you see is what you get.
"Otherwise, the people get angry. Because those who campaign to get the people's votes give a different impression. But there are hidden hands behind the scenes, aren't there?"
Rafizi explained that all the internal party drama and criticism directed at him stems from his refusal to participate in PKR's alleged culture of backroom deals and hidden influence.
As a result, he was sidelined for maintaining his integrity, the Pandan MP said.
"What you see is what you get. Merit matters more than anything else. If we let this hidden-hands culture take root, that’s what breeds corruption.
"I'm convinced that anyone who wants to become a leader must have legitimacy with the people, and that legitimacy must be your own legitimacy. Not by hiding behind others, mate, and suddenly appearing.
“So, because of that, what other attacks can they make against me? There's no corruption, there's none of that," he added.
Malaysiakini has also reached out to PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh for comments on Rafizi's allegations regarding the party's alleged internal practices.
'I can bring this govt down'
Rafizi said public reaction to his voluntary resignation from the cabinet after losing the PKR deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar was broadly favourable.
He further attacked the culture of patronage in PKR - insisting the “sulking” claims came from those denied favours, not from ordinary voters.
He said Malaysian political culture usually involves people clinging on to posts and only leaving when forced out, sometimes receiving a "token reward” as a farewell, a behaviour he sees as disconnected from public expectations.
Rafizi also criticised a faction within PKR, which he described pejoratively as “chaplos”, saying they are not in tune with the public sentiment.
According to him, these individuals were mobilised during election campaigns but later demanded favours once their candidate secured victory, allowing them to dictate party narratives and fuel internal grievances.
He also reminded his critics of his strength.
"The problem is that during the campaign, these sorts of people were used for campaigning.
"Therefore, the narrative is set by these gangs, and that's why the narrative just becomes, oh, (he’s) sulking. If I were sulking, I would have joined Bersatu or PN (Perikatan Nasional) by now.
"People forget I can bring this government down," Rafizi asserted, adding that he could also gather more MPs to exit the government with him than his PKR predecessor, Azmin Ali.
Azmin was a key figure in the Sheraton Move that toppled the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020. He left PKR with 10 other MPs, but in the 15th general election, he lost the Gombak seat he had held since 2004, amid growing voter resentment.
However, Rafizi stressed that it was not his intention to oust the government. Instead, the PKR lawmaker is dedicated to fulfilling his duty to his Pandan constituency until the end of his term.
"Whether or not I think PKR still carries my aspiration as a political platform, I think we will cross the bridge when we are there.
“For now, the number one responsibility that I have as a public figure is actually as an MP, and I intend to see it through," he added.
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