National Unity Advisory Council member Tajuddin Rasdi has hit back at Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli’s latest criticism of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, describing it as his “unkindest” remark.
The academic said he “took offence” to the former economy minister’s claims that Anwar had been too preoccupied with power and wanting to become prime minister, reminding that Anwar continued to fight despite enduring police brutality and imprisonment for decades.
“Of all the unkind things he has said about Anwar since his resignation as a minister, this was the unkindest one.
“If Anwar were preoccupied with being prime minister, he would have taken the easy way out by leaving the country and not enduring imprisonment for many years,” he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
Tajuddin (above) also said if he faced the same challenges as Anwar, he would have personally given up on the first day, because fighting Umno back then would have been “crazy” and “unthinkable”.
Yesterday, the former PKR deputy president said on X that he is free from a fixation on the premiership - an obsession which he suggested has defined Anwar’s political life.
Rafizi opined that anyone who believes the nation or society needs them “has a complex”, stressing that politicians’ work should be executed as a contribution to the rakyat and “investment” for the akhirat (afterlife).
Since his defeat in the PKR deputy presidency race to Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah and his subsequent resignation from the cabinet last year, Rafizi has adopted a more outspoken posture in airing his criticism of party figures and government matters.
In one of his “Yang Berhenti Menteri” podcast episodes last December, Rafizi also asserted that he had raised several concerns internally during his time in the cabinet, but had opted to give Anwar the benefit of the doubt in hopes that the prime minister would make changes.
Having exhausted all available avenues, Rafizi said he believes there are still issues that need to be raised, and he is voicing them now, especially since he is no longer bound by cabinet rules.
‘Bitter man’
In his statement yesterday, Tajuddin also criticised Rafizi’s increasing outspokenness, describing him as “a bitter man with a small heart” and likening him to “the Grinch” at the end of his career.
The academic also reminded that based on his 20-year career engaging with political issues, it was important for politicians to remain “with the party”, and “strive to be at the top”.
“To be at the top may not just be about money and prestige, but also about discharging the highest responsibility where God would evaluate him or her first.
“I hope that PKR can release him (Rafizi) so that we can all see whether he can walk his talk and whether he will be or not be occupied to be the prime minister in his new party.
“But if he gives up and ‘retires quietly’, then he shouldn’t talk much,” Tajuddin said. - Mkini
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